Tuesday Devotional November 10, 2009

FORGIVENESS IS SPELLED: J-E-S-U-S!
Just as I did last Tuesday, I’ve decided to keep a small theme throughout my November devotionals by using three simple scripture verses in each one. As you can see, the topic is forgiveness. Wow! Now that can really be a hot topic. Let’s look at the three scriptures dealing with the topic.
Matthew 18:20-21 (NIV) – “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. 21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me, up to seven times?" Matthew 6:14 (NIV) - “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV) - “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
The first scripture is Jesus speaking to His disciples regarding conflict resolution and Peter tacks on a request at the end of Christ’s lesson, proving that he hadn’t quite gotten it yet. The second passage is Jesus reminding His followers that if we’ll forgive others for what they’ve done to us, then His Father, God Almighty, will forgive us of the sins we’ve committed against Him. The third scripture is Paul telling the church at Colossae that as Christians, when they’re facing difficulties in the church that they need to resolve things between each other. Since God has forgiven us, we in turn must forgive each other.

On this very busy Tuesday, let me ask us all this question: Is there anyone you have not forgiven? You might say, “Wait a minute Pastor Darryl. You don’t know what they did to me, you don’t know how much they hurt me, you don’t know how they made me look, you just don’t know what all I’ve been through because of them”, and so on.

May I tell you today that you are absolutely right? There is no way I could ever know. I don’t even know to what lengths this devotional is being read. It may be that you’re in another country, because I’ve often received comments on my devotionals from across the globe. I am humbled and also blessed by that. But, it remains true, I do not know, and I don’t have to know. You see, there is someone who does know. He knows everything wrong that has ever been done to you. He is aware of all the pain you may have carried or are still carrying. He is cognizant of every unkind word you have endured, every painful moment you have experienced and every discomfort someone else has caused you to endure.

Friends, may I say to you today with the most sincere heart that no matter how much we may have endured, it is not enough to measure up to what Jesus experienced prior to the cross, upon the cross or even after the cross when those He loved felt He had let them down. He went through all of that for you and me. He willingly died for all mankind. He loved us so much that even in our sin, Christ died for us that we might receive His forgiveness and have the assurance of a home one day in the Heaven He has gone to prepare for His own.

As we move even closer to Thanksgiving Day, is there anything more important for us to be thankful for than the forgiveness that Christ has made available to us? I just don’t think so. Is there anything we have endured that is so bad that we cannot offer our forgiveness to the perpetrator because Jesus Christ Himself has offered His forgiveness to us and to them as well? I have to say it friends, there just is nothing we’ve endured that will allow us not to forgive and be justified in doing so.

Why not pause on this busy Tuesday and ask God to bring to mind anyone and everyone that you have yet to forgive. Ask Him to help you to freely give to them what Christ has given to you - Forgiveness! Oh friends, I promise you that it will lighten the load you are carrying. Forgiving someone else will set you free. Do not allow someone else’s actions to carry so much weight in your life that the negative feelings you have for them are so strong that it keeps you down. Get up, let go and give to that person what no one else can give to them. Give them your forgiveness. You’ll be so glad you did!

Remember, when you take time to truly spell things out so that they make the greatest sense, you are so much better off. So let’s spell it together, okay? Ready? Forgiveness is spelled: J-E-S-U-S!
Have a great Tuesday and rest of the week.

Pastor Darryl