January 26, 2023 … God’s Forgiving Love …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023</u> - Day 26 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West singing  … Forgiveness … poignantly singing our how we Christians, tho having been forgiven by Christ still find it so difficult to forgive others.   

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Highlight Passage: … Colossians 3:13 [NLT] …  

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians (us too!!) to make allowance for the failings of others and to forgive them as all of us have been forgiven by Christ                                                                                  

Highlight Passage (Context): … Colossians 3:12-14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Paul shows how Christian love should lead us to forgive others as Christ has forgiven us.       

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Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:15 [NLT] …  

15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.  

…  Jesus shows the reality that if we refuse to forgive others, our God will not forgive us.   

Reference Passage: … Mark 11:25 [NLT] …  

25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. 

…  Jesus shows His disciples (and us) that we cannot expect God to answer our prayers if we have refused to forgive others as He has forgiven us.         

<b><u>Reference Passage </u>: … Luke 6:37 [NLT] …  </b>

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.   

…  Jesus preaches truth about judging and/or forgiving others.     

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 4:31-32 [NLT] … 

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

… The Apostle Paul, showing fellow Christians how we must life to emulate Christlikeness, emphasizes our need to forgive others as Christ has forgiven all who acknowledged His Lordship.      

Reference Passage: … 1John 1:9  [NLT] … 

9 But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness..   

… God, thru John, teaches how God is ALWAYS faithful to forgive and cleanse the sins of those who’re willing to confess their sins to Him.    

                                                                             

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra … AT THIS LINK …   tells of how a relative and his wife celebrated 80 years of marriage, relating to others that the secret to their long marriage, besides their age, was their mutual understanding to forgive the failings and faults of each other.  

And that mutual and lasting decision by this elderly couple certainly has biblical support, doesn’t it, ,,, especially when one takes into account the biblical truths from no less than Jesus Himself and the Apostle Paul (shared above)?  Bottomline, according to God is that if we’re not willing to forgive others, we cannot expect our Lord to forgive us and we certainly cannot expect Him to answer our prayers. 

So, taking in the linked song and the Scriptural truths above, I’m glad to say that I cannot recall anyone with whom I hold a grudge or am withholding forgiveness at this time. And I’m praying that attitude will last.  …  How about you?  

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for forgiving us and calling us to forgive others in the same way.         

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to do all we can to forgive others the way You, Lord, have forgiven us.           Amen

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Blogger Note:  Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.