“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” (Eph. 5:1)
penitential confession prayer book of Common Prayer school of prayer office page 6 page six Christian witness declaration of who God is most merciful Father erred strayed lost sheep followed our hearts sinful love confess undone ought to have done we can never love enough sins of omission sins of commission sickness beautiful language words not flattened out miserable offender gone against God misery truth telling forgiveness trip as Christian contrition heartfelt sorrow purpose and amendment deep theological understanding who God is follow the admonition of Paul follow Him example of Christ as merciful Father in heaven is merciful so are we to be merciful gave His only Son as a sacrifice for the sins of the whole world lovingkindness embodiment of Gods mercy the means by which we are reconciled imitate mercy God loved us while we were still sinners commanded to love one another love those who love us back impossible to love evildoer we are to love them imitate Jesus Christ His own received Him not mocked crucified adulterous woman go and sin no more washing His feet with her tears penitent thief verily this day you will be with me in Paradise poured out His mercy upon us love others as I have loved you St Stephen stoning lay not this sin to their charge St Patrick stolen from family Britain brutalized slave escaped reunited with family dream Irish came back to share the gospel apostle to the Irish reignited the Christian gospel church planter goes back to those who enslaved him set free as dear children encouraged by the saints