April 22, 2023 … God’s Power Thru Forgiveness

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 112 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics  from the group Sidewalk Prophets singing … Where Forgiveness Is … powerfully, singing of how God’s love and grace are expressed so powerfully in our forgiveness of those who’ve hurt us.  

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Highlight Passage: … Matthew 18:21-22 [NLT] … 

21 Then Peter came to Him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?”  22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!"

… Jesus shows Peter that His disciples (and all who follow Him) must be willing to forever and ALWAYS be willing to forgive others.           

Highlight Passage (Context): … Matthew 18:21-35 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus shows Peter and His disciples (and us) thru a parable how we must be willing to forgive others just as He, our King Jesus, was  willing to forgive His chosen ones … ALWAYS.                

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 86:5 [NLT] … 

 5 O Lord, You are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. 

… King David sings of God’s forever and faithful willingness to forgive those who love and follow Him. 

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14 [NLT] … 

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 

… Jesus teaches about God’s willingness to forgive those who forgive others.   

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 teaches that we, who follow Him as Lord, must be willing to forgive any/all who have wronged them (or us).   

 

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

… Paul exhorts fellow Christians (and us) that they (we) must be willing to forgive others just as our Lord was (and is) willing - and able - to forgive us.        

Reference Passage: … Colossians 3:12-13 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… calls on fellow Christians to take on the banner of Christlikeness and show God’s love and grace by forgiving others, … remembering the love of God which has forgiven those who believe in Christ as our LORD.    

                                                                                                                         

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Dave Brandon … AT THIS LINK …   … told of a group of 17 missionaries who were kidnapped by a gang but escaped to safety; and once safe sent a message to their captors saying, “Jesus taught us by word and by His own example that the power of forgiving love is stronger than the hate of violent force. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to you.”

Really that’s the entire message of the ODB entry today, where Jesus teaches and Paul repeats the call (from God’s word above) for all Christians to be willing to forgive any/all who’ve wronged us, just as Jesus was willing to - and did - forgive others.  So, I’m praying we all take in the linked song and look into our lives and see if there is anyone God is calling us to forgive, especially as we remember His death on that cross to show God’s forgiveness of our sins.    

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … taking those three nails and for Your shed blood forgiving me.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to express our thanks for Your forgiveness, Lord, just as we forgive others in our lives to share and show Your love and grace.  …  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.