25
Aug '20
Forgive as Christ Forgave You
25
Aug '20
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13)
It is tempting to turn the news off right now…if you aren’t mad you are feeling helpless.
The issues are real, complex and layered; illness, financial crisis and clashes between cultures.
The issues may be complicated, but God’s answers are not; As the Lord has forgiven you so should you forgive (Col 3)!
If I forgave others as God forgave me, it would be without condition and without judgement.
Being gracious may be as simple as not speaking anger when others are.
God, thank you for loving and forgiving me based on how much I need it and not if I deserve it.
Forgive me if I hold others to any other standard!
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2)
This devotion blessed me. I pray you are encouraged to be slow to speak, quick to listen, and slow to wrath. Remember the grace God has shown you.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
09
Jul '20
The Bridge of Grace
09
Jul '20
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13)
There you have it, people. It is so hard, so, so hard.
It is so much easier to hang onto anger. So much easier.
A grudge is like attempting to poison someone else, but drinking the poison yourself.
It rots you out, slowly and deceptively.
God has given us all grace. That arch, that bridge is so unbelievably important, so strong.
Walk on it, believe in it, and hold the hand of those who hurt you and take them across with you.
God is love, God is in you, YOU are love.
Fallen, broken world? Yes. Redeemed and forgiven souls with the ability to spread grace. Yes!
Don’t hesitate as night cometh…
“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4-5)
“The bridge of grace will bear your weight, brother. Thousands of big sinners have gone across that bridge, yea, tens of thousands have gone over it. Some have been the chief of sinners and some have come at the very last of their days but the arch has never yielded beneath their weight. I will go with them trusting to the same support. It will bear me over as it has for them.”
Before the sun sets, choose forgiveness and grace.
Wow! What an image, I’ve never looked at grace as though it were a bridge but how powerful is that? I can remember so vividly, God taking my hand and walking with me across that bridge called Grace. If He can do it for me, I can in return, hold the hand of those who hurt me and take them across with me. We must be willing while it is still day to spread grace, walk on it, believe in it and let go of that grudge that weighs us down. Forgiveness and Grace! Hallelujah!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
07
Nov '18
I’m Sorry
07
Nov '18
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13)
In 2005, Collins falsified a report that resulted in McGee being thrown in prison for four years, and McGee vowed to find Collins when he got out and “hurt him.” McGee was eventually exonerated, but not before he lost everything. Meanwhile, Collins’s many falsified reports were uncovered, he lost his job, and he too spent time behind bars. But both men came to faith in Christ while in prison.
In 2015, the two discovered they were working together in the same faith-based company. Collins recalls, “I [told McGee], ‘Honestly, I have no explanation, all I can do is say I’m sorry.’” It was “pretty much what I needed to hear,” said McGee, who graciously forgave him. The men were able to reconcile because both had experienced the incomparable love and forgiveness of God, who empowers us to “forgive as the Lord forgave [us]” (Colossians 3:13).
Now the two are great friends. “We have this joint mission . . . of letting the world know that if you owe an apology to somebody, put your pride down and go apologize,” said Collins. “And if you’re holding something against somebody, let go of the bitterness because it’s like drinking poison and hoping it’s hurting them.”
God calls believers to live in peace and unity. If we have “a grievance against someone,” we can bring it to Him. He will help us to reconcile (vv. 13–15; Philippians 4:6–7).
Dear Father, thank You for forgiving us when we come to You in sorrow over our sins. Help us to receive Your forgiveness and to extend it to others. Amen.
This devotion blessed me, what a reminder. If there is someone your struggling to forgive remember How much Christ has forgiven you. It’s incredible how far I’m sorry can go when it’s genuine. Christ sets us free to forgive.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Timothy 2:1-2
08
May '17
Should I Forgive?
08
May '17
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13)
I arrived early at my church to help set up for an event. A woman stood crying at the opposite end of the sanctuary. She’d been cruel and gossiped about me in the past, so I quickly drowned out her sobs with a vacuum cleaner. Why should I care about someone who didn’t like me?
When the Holy Spirit reminded me how much God had forgiven me, I crossed the room. The woman shared that her baby had been in the hospital for months. We cried, embraced, and prayed for her daughter. After working through our differences, we’re now good friends.
In Matthew 18, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king who decided to settle his accounts. A servant who owed a staggering amount of money pleaded for mercy. Soon after the king canceled his debt, that servant tracked down and condemned a man who owed him far less than what he’d owed the king. When word got back to the king, the wicked servant was imprisoned because of his own unforgiving spirit (vv. 23–34).
Choosing to forgive doesn’t condone sin, excuse the wrongs done to us, or minimize our hurts. Offering forgiveness simply frees us to enjoy God’s undeserved gift of mercy, as we invite Him to accomplish beautiful works of peace-restoring grace in our lives and our relationships.
Lord, help us give our grievances to You so that You may turn them into something good. Make us ready to forgive completely and earnestly. Give us Your spirit of unity. Amen.
When I read this I remembered a time when someone I had known had lost a loved one, I felt compelled to reach out to them but I was faced with asking myself the exact same question, Why should I care about someone who I felt didn’t like me? It was in that moment The Holy Spirit also spoke to my heart and I chose to break down the wall of hurt and anger, I followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and you know something, it was in that moment we went from being just acquaintances to true friends and we are very close to this day. I never in a million years thought we would be as close as we are now, but God! My prayer today is that each and every person reading this today will choose to allow Him to accomplish beautiful works of peace-restoring grace in your lives and your relationships. God opened my eyes that day and taught me that YES He can and will, if you allow Him, accomplish beautiful works of peace-He continues to restore grace in my life and in my relationships. Thank You Abba Father!!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 18:23-35