HOW CAN I FORGIVE?

Genesis 45:1-15

Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

A seminary student earned his way through school driving a bus on Chicago’s south side. One day a gang of young thugs boarded the bus and refused to pay the fare. The young man spotted a policeman, stopped the bus, and reported them. The officer made them pay, but then left. After the bus rounded a corner the thugs beat the driver severely.

The gang members were rounded up, brought to trial, and found guilty. As soon as their sentences were announced, however, the student asked the judge if he could serve their jail terms for them. The judge and the gang members were astounded. “It’s because I forgive you,” he explained. The request was denied, but in the months that followed, the student visited the young men in jail and led several of them to faith in Jesus Christ.

When Joseph’s brothers stood before him in Egypt asking for food, Joseph faced a great test. Years before, these men had planned to kill him,  but they changed their minds and sold him into slavery. Now Joseph was in a position of power and could take revenge, but because he trusted God’s sovereignty he offered them forgiveness.

Have you been wronged? Just as you trusted Christ to forgive you, ask Him for grace to forgive others. —hwr

Lord, help me be kind and forgiving — so oft Your forgiveness I’ve known for sins I have daily committed; Lord, grant me a love like Your own. —anon

Forgiveness is Christianity in action.

REMEMBERANCE DAY

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19

I was in London’s Heathrow Airport waiting for a connecting flight to the US. An announcement came over the public address system stating that it was “Remembrance Day” in the UK, the day on which people honored those who had died for their country in times of war. The announcement further said that at 11:00 a.m. there would be 2 minutes of silence and that it would be appreciated if everyone kept that in mind. Thousands of people from all over the world stood in silence as a tribute to the fallen soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen of the UK.

The desire to remember those who gave their lives for their country is noble. Yet, as meaningful as that is, it cannot compare to the privilege that belongs to us when we approach the Lord’s Table. As we celebrate Communion, we are obeying Christ’s command that we remember His death (Luke 22:19) and to do it “till He comes” (1 Corinithians 11:26). When He sacrificed His life for us, He provided the forgiveness of sins that sets us free and secures for us an eternal home in heaven.

Rather than letting the Lord’s Supper become routine, make every opportunity at the Table a true “Remembrance Day” by honoring Him til He comes. —bill crowder

Thank You, Lord, for dying for me on the cross of  Calvary; help me always to remember what You did to set me free. —sper

Remembering Christ’s death for us should cause to live for  Him.

GETTING EVEN

Ephesians 4:25- Ephesians 5:1

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

When we or someone we love has been hurt, thoughts of revenge may dominate our minds. But we won’t ever be able to “get even.” Dr. Lewis Smedes, a professor of theology, wrote extensively about forgiveness in Forgive and Forget, saying: “Revenge never evens the score, for alienated people never keep score of wrongs by the same mathematics. Forgiveness is the only way to stop the cycle of unfair pain turning in your memory.”

These insights help us understand why Paul wrote with urgency: “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger . . . be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, . . . forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). Paul knew that a spirit of forgiveness was essential for the Ephesians’ spiritual survival. His appeal was based on God’s forgiveness of them.

Smedes said that forgiveness is not forgetting, excusing, or smoothing things over. Instead, forgiving breaks the cycle of revenge and “creates a new possibility of fairness by releasing us from the unfair past. Forgiving is love’s toughest work, and love’s biggest risk. To forgive is to dance to the beat of God’s forgiving heart. It is to ride the crest of love’s strongest wave. To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” —david mccasland

Jesus came our debt to pay, saved our soul in grace one day, so in love we all should live, ready always to forgive. —bosch

Revenge imprisons us; forgiveness sets us FREE.

“GUILTY!”

Luke 18:9-14

God, be merciful to me a sinner! Luke 18:13

The great “prince of preachers” Charles Haddon Spurgeon used to tell the story of a duke who boarded a gallery ship and went below to talk with the criminals manning the oars. He asked several of them what their offenses were. Almost every man claimed he was innocent, blaming someone else or accusing the judge of taking a bribe.

One young fellow, however, replied, “Sir, I deserve to be here. I stole some money. No one is at fault but me. I’m guilty.” Upon hearing this, the duke shouted, “You scoundrel, you! What are you doing here with all these honest men? Get out of their company at once!” The duke ordered that this prisoner be released. He was set free, while the rest were left to tug at the oars. The key to this prisoner’s freedom was his admission of guilt.

That’s also true in salvation. Until a person is willing to admit, “I am a sinner in need of salvation,” he cannot experience freedom from guilt and condemnation.

Have you ever said, “I plead guilty”? If not, do so right now. You can never save yourself, so receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior by placing your trust in Him. Then, once you are set free from sin’s guilt and power, you will know the joy of forgiveness and freedom. —rwd

Admitting that we’re guilty, acknowledging our sin, then trusting in Christ’s sacrifice will make us clean within. —sper

Sin brings fear: confession brings freedom.

PRAYING LIKE CHRIST

Job 42

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word. John 17:20

With friends like his, Job didn’t need enemies. His three would-be comforters failed miserably in their efforts to ease his pain. Instead of bringing sympathy, they recited a creed of iron and ice that only compounded his anguish.

Yet Job was able to emerge from his cave of pain and confusion in triumph. A significant step toward that victory was his willingness to pray for the very friends who had criticized and accused him. God honored his prayers, and Job had the delight of witnessing his friends’ forgiveness and restoration.

Jesus also prayed for His friends (John 17:9-19), despite their constant failings. With the shadow of the cross falling darkly on Him, Jesus prayed for Peter even though He knew Peter would deny Him within hours (Luke 22:32-34).

Jesus prayed for you and me also (John 17:20-24). His work of prayer, which began before His death and resurrection, continues to this day. Although we sometimes act more like His enemies than His friends, Jesus died for us, reigns in power for us, and still prays for us (Romans 8:34).

Following Christ’s example, we are to pray for our friends and acquaintances — even when they hurt us. Is there someone you can pray for today? —hwr

As we attempt to live like Christ in actions, words, and deeds, we’ll follow His design for prayer and pray for others’ needs. —jdb

Nothing makes us love a person so much as praying for him.

NAIL HOLES

2 Samuel 12:1-14

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. —Psalm 32:5

All sin carries a price tag. Its consequences may range from minor to major, but the bill always comes due. Somebody always pays.

There’s a story about a boy whose father pounded a nail in the barn door every time the boy did something wrong. Soon there were many nails. Then one day the boy accepted Christ as Savior and began living for Him. To impress upon his son the wonder of being forgiven, the father took him to the barn and pulled out every nail from the door. “That is what it means to have all your sins forgiven,” he said. “They are gone forever.”

The boy was deeply impressed. Then looking at the door, he asked, “But Father, how can I get rid of the holes?” I’m sorry,” said the father, “but they will remain.”

The psalmist David paid clearly for committing adultery with Bathsheba and engineering her husband’s death to cover up his sin. Guilt sapped his strength (Psalm 32:3-4). Even though he confessed his sin, and God “removed the nail,” David carried with him a deep sorrow (2 Samuel 12:15-17). But this did not rob him of the blessedness of forgiveness.

Even though we may have to live with the consequences of sin, we who have trusted in Christ as the sacrifice for our sins can rejoice in His complete forgiveness. —djd

How blest is he whose trespass has freely been forgiven, whose sin is wholly covered before the sight of heaven. —psalter

Although God heals the wounds of sin, scars may remain.

BURYING THE HATCHET

If you believe the “once saved always saved” idea that has so long been taught in churches, then you may be in trouble! Today’s devotional goes right along with the “The Lazarus Phenonomen.” Making a commitment to Jesus Christ does not give anyone a license to treat other people however they want. God will not tolerate what so many people are doing. Many so called “good people” and “church people” will be going to hell. I know that I sure do not want to be one of those people who stands before God and have to hear Him tell me that my portion is hell all because I failed to forgive someone. Making amends in a broken relationship is serious business. Our eternal destiny depends upon it.

Dre

Matthew 6:5-15

Even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:13

Old Joe was dying. For years he had been at odds with Bill, formerly one of his best friends. Wanting to straighten things out, he sent word for Bill to come and see him.

When Bill arrived, Joe told him that he was afraid to go into eternity with such a bad feeling between them. Then, very reluctantly and with great effort, Joe apologized for things he had said and done. He also assured Bill that he forgave him for his offenses. Everything seemed fine until Bill turned to go. As he walked out of the room, Joe called out after him, “But, remember, if I get better, this doesn’t count!”

What a picture of the way we often treat one another! The forgiveness we offer is superficial, and it is given with a selfish motive. We say that we forgive, but when the least little friction arises, how quick we are to resurrect past grievances. We like to “bury the hatchet” with the handle sticking out. That way we can easily pick it up again and use it to our advantage.

If our sinless Lord is willing to forgive us—with all our faults—how can we withhold pardon from those who have sinned against us? True Christlike forgiveness buries the hatchet completely. —rwd

What happens to your fellowship with God when you hold a grudge? (Matthew 6:15). Can you think of someone you need to forgive?

Forgiveness is the glue that repairs broken relationships.

HEAR GOD’s CALL

Judges 6:11-14

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? Judges 6:14

When Israel called to God for help, God responded graciously, despite the fact tat the text includes no evidence of repentance and no announcement of divine forgiveness. The angel of the Lord came to Gideon as he was threshing wheat. The Lord’s angel messenger told Gideon the Lord was with him. He commissioned him to save Israel from the Midianites. The reference to going in his own strength probably was in anticipation of the Spirit of the Lord’s coming upon him. (See Judges 6:34)

As I write these lines, I have just celebrated 50 years as an ordained minister. Although my call was less dramatic than Gideon’s, God’s commission was no less real. The assurance that God had sent me has helped me to persevere for half a century.

Serving God well begins with a call and is dependent on Holy Spirit power to equip and to empower.

Lord, keep my ears attuned to Your call and help me to go obediently in Your power.

A CLEAN HEART

Psalm 51

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

I love putting on a fresh, clean shirt each morning. I don’t know what my wife does to those shirts when she washes them, but boy do they smell and feel good! There’s just something about the smell of a clean shirt that makes me feel as though I have a fresh start to a new day no matter what has happened the day before.

A clean heart can have much the same effect in our lives. When we ask for forgiveness and present our dirty hearts to God, He washes them; and boy does it feel good when He gets done! No matter how ground in the stains may be, God can and will remove them if we simply ask Him. Scripture tells us His mercies are new every morning. (See Lamentations 3:22-23) So just as we can put on fresh smelling shirts each morning, we can be sure that if we ask Him, God will see to it that we have a clean heart every morning as well.

Father, “create in me a clean heart. . . and renew a right spirit within me.”

ONE ANOTHER

Is the body of Christ an abstract concept to you?

We are not simply individuals; we are part of a group, a group that is to be characterized by loving interactions.

The Bible is loaded with instructions on how Christians should respond to each other. These “one another” statements form the framework for the body of Christ:

Love one another (John 13:34)

Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)

Live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:16)

Accept one another (Romans 15:7)

Agree with one another (1 Corinthians 1:10)

Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

Submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. (Colossians 3:13)

Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Offer hospitality to one another (1 Peter 4:9)

The body of Christ is a place of acceptance, service and love. It is a community full of compassion, encouragement and harmony; a group devoted to humility, forgiveness and unity.

How is such a community developed? One “one another” at a time.

Imagine the impact our lives would have if we focused on practicing a different “one another” each day or the same one for a whole week. What would happen if in the midst of an argument or an interaction with an irritating person, we paused to ask ourselves which “one another” we should be exercising at that moment?

I believe that not only would we be changed, but so would those around us. The body of Christ would be an attractive and transforming agent in our world.

God, I want to live how You have called me to live. Help me begin treating all believers with love, compassion and forgiveness. Show me how to humbly serve those around me.

Which “one another” do you need to exercise today? Why is God so concerned about how we treat one another?