DCLM Daily Manna 2025: DCLM Daily Manna 13 November 2025: How Not To Pervert Forgiveness
Text: Ezra 10:6–8 (KJV)
Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.
7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;
8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
KEY VERSE: Ezra 10:6 (KJV)
“Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.”
Many people forget the true cost of forgiveness and therefore treat sin lightly. But to God, sin is never a trivial matter. It cost Him dearly—the death of His only begotten Son on the Cross. The Cross of Calvary stands as a solemn reminder that forgiveness is not cheap; it demanded the highest price.
In today’s passage, we see Ezra’s godly sorrow and drastic response to the sins of Israel. After returning from captivity, the people quickly fell back into the same disobedience that had led to their exile.
They intermarried with heathen nations and adopted pagan customs, violating God’s clear commandments. When Ezra heard this, he was heartbroken. He fasted, mourned, and led the people in repentance.
Ezra understood that true forgiveness must be accompanied by repentance and restitution. It was not enough to merely confess their sins; they needed to take tangible steps to correct their wrongdoing. Ezra called an assembly, confronted the offenders, and demanded that they put away their foreign wives.
His example challenges us today to examine our attitude toward sin. If we ignore sin or treat it casually, we risk becoming hardened and spiritually insensitive. Forgiveness does not give us license to continue in sin. It demands that we forsake it. Confession without repentance is empty and dangerous—it perverts God’s mercy.
Genuine repentance involves a broken heart, sincere confession, forsaking sin, and making amends where necessary. That is how to receive God’s true forgiveness and maintain fellowship with Him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Be urgent; deal with sin drastically and promptly.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 6–8
Daily Manna 13 November 2025
