"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1, NIV).
A Word From Billy Graham
"Oh, the depth of God's Grace! Oh, the height of God's mercy, the breadth of God's love, that He is willing to say to you and to me, 'I forgive you. You will never have to face the judgment!' When that gets through to you, you can go to bed and sleep a new kind of sleep. You will say to yourself, 'I don't deserve this kind of release. Surely I will have to face the music sometime.' The full penalty has been paid. The Judge will never say, 'I pronounce sentence on you,' because Christ has accepted that sentence for you. In Christ you are free. Accept it by faith and go your way rejoicing. When you know the truth, the truth shall make you free. How wonderful! Sin is no longer in the throne room of my life. Christ sits there, and as I daily, moment by moment, yield my members to Him, He orders my life. Satan no longer has the power over my life that he once had. Sin is no longer in command. Oh, to be sure, I slip and fall, but Christ is there to pick me up and to put His arm around me and to love me."
Forgiveness Sets Us Free
"Forgiveness is more than leaving behind sin and its penalty. Forgiveness frees us to serve God, to relate to Him and to engage in the activities that He gives us the privilege to do with Him. To come to Jesus, seeking from God the forgiveness that Jesus has the authority to bestow, is to gain release from that which limits our ability to be what God created us to be. God longs to forgive us. If we do not know Him, we may come to Him seeking forgiveness. We may trust Him to give us release. He will do it; He has promised that He will. That is why He sent His Son to die in our place, to pay the penalty for our sin and to set the stage for our forgiveness. What more could God have done to show how much He wants us to turn to Him? Jesus showed that forgiveness from Him is available for the asking. Let us ask for that forgiveness and rejoice in getting to know our gracious Forgiver" (Darrell L. Bock).
Prayer
Father, help us to find forgiveness in You. Teach us to live in the freedom that Your forgiveness provides us. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
"Decision" magazine Weekly E-mail Devotional
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Forgiveness
Foregiveness
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."
Luke 6:37, NIV
A friend sent me the following illustration: One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we refused to forgive for whatever they did, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag.
We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for two weeks, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work, etc.
The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually and emotionally, and how we had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget it and leave it in embarrassing places.
Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for nursing our grudges. Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person while it clearly is for ourselves!
So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself, Isn't your bag heavy enough?
Suggested prayer:
"Dear God, please help me to forgive all who have ever hurt me and to never nurse a grudge—no matter what others have done or have failed to do—just as you always forgive me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
"Daily Encounter" - Oct 31/07
A Very Thankful Man
1. A Very Thankful Man
"I thank my God every time I remember you."1
I have read that "Charles Plumb, a US Naval Academy graduate, was a jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent six years in a Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience.
"One day after Plumb gave a presentation, a fellow came up to him and said, 'You don't know me, but I am the person who packed your parachute the day you were shot down.'
"Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, 'I guess it worked!'
"Plumb assured him, 'It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today.'"
If it weren't for somebody else—perhaps many "somebody elses"—most of us wouldn't be where we are today either. And if it weren't for somebody else telling us about Jesus and God's gift of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life, most of us wouldn't know God and wouldn't be bound for Heaven.
May we ever be mindful and thankful to all who have "folded our parachute," as it were, and may we do the same for others.
Suggested prayer:
"Dear God, thank you for all who have helped me be where I am today and especially for those who shared your love and message of eternal salvation with me. Help me to have a thankful heart and help others to find Jesus and know God—as others have helped me. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Paul the Apostle (Philippians 1:3, NIV).
“Daily Encounter” - Oct 17/07
