Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images and lyrics from Matthew West singing … Forgiveness … poignantly singing how forgiveness may be one of the hardest things we do … almost impossible … but that’s what we much do for others who’ve wronged us.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 6:27-28 [NLT] … 27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. …”
… Luke’s account of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and for His disciples to live with Kingdom values, especially forgiveness.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 6:27-36 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …
… The early, post-resurrection church came together to form Christ’s Body.
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Reference Passage : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … 22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.
… God’s mercies never cease. Hence, we should never stop trying for forgiveness.
Reference 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 was saying that there are no limits to how much or how long we must carry on an attitude of complete forgiveness and a compassionate desire for reconciliation to 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.
… We’re exhorted by God, thru Paul, to reach out with forgiving hearts to be compassionate toward others, … yes, even those who wrong us.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, David C McCasland, used an historical reference to illustrate how simple, but how challenging, God’s call for us to forgive others was simply and perfectly modeled - FOR OUR FORGIVENESS - on the cross. The ODB author wrote: In 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges was the first African-American child to integrate an all-white public elementary school in the American South. Every day for months, federal marshals escorted Ruby past a mob of angry parents shouting curses, threats, and insults at her. Safely inside, she sat in a classroom alone with Barbara Henry, the only teacher willing to instruct her while parents kept their children from attending school with Ruby.
Noted child psychologist Robert Coles met with Ruby for several months to help her cope with the fear and stress she experienced. He was amazed by the prayer Ruby said every day as she walked to school and back home. “Please, God, forgive them because they don’t know what they’re doing.”
The little girl, of course, was quoting from Jesus on the cross [see Luke 23:34] as He forgave us for nailing Him to that Tree with our sins. And He prayed to His Father in Heaven that all those who had wronged the Son of God might be forgiven, which was forgiveness being modeled perfectly. And Ruby Bridges the young six year old, understood the impact and meaning of Jesus’ forgiveness. So, why can’t we, in these days-and-times, get it? Because so many don’t, do they?
I hope I do. …I hope we all do. Because if we don’t, the only REALLY bright thing in our future as Christians is the impending return of Jesus to rule a world which He preached about on that Sermon on the Mount and possibly anything we do to abide in Him while we remain on this earth.
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Lord, Jesus, thank You for forgiving me.
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My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … Help me to forgive any/all who’ve wronged me, Lord. … Amen
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.
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