Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in YouTube images and lyrics from Matthew West singing … Forgiveness … poignantly singing of how we, as Christians, must overcome our human desires and pride to be able to share God’s love with others and forgive them as Christ forgave us.
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Highlight Verse[s]: 1 Peter 4:7-8 [NLT] … 7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
… Yes, truly … sharing God’s love with others does cover a multitude of sins.
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Highlight Passage [context]: 1 Peter 4:7-11 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Peter had experienced God’s reconciling/redeeming love; so, he exhorted others to share that love with others.
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Reference Passage : … John 18:15-27, 21:15-19 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …
… Peter’s denial of Christ and then his reconciliation by the Lord after the resurrection.
Reference Passage : … Romans 5:8 [NLT] … 8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
… The ultimate in God’s reconciling/redeeming love in that He was willing to die for sinners like me and you.
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.
… God, thru Paul, exhorts us to set aside selfish desires and share the forgiving love of Christ with others.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, uses a historical story to illustrate how reconciling forgiveness is such a healing force in our lives. The ODB author writes … When they first met, Edwin Stanton snubbed US president Abraham Lincoln personally and professionally—even referring to him as a “long-armed creature.” But Lincoln appreciated Stanton’s abilities and chose to forgive him, eventually appointing Stanton to a vital cabinet position during the Civil War. Stanton later grew to love Lincoln as a friend. It was Stanton who sat by Lincoln’s bed throughout the night after the president was shot at Ford’s Theater and whispered through tears on his passing, “Now he belongs to the ages.”
When we’re willing - and able - to overcome our pride and selfish desires and CHOOSE to forgive others the way Christ forgave us sinners (see Rom. 5:8), wondrous reconciliation can take place as that which was written about in the ODB story about Abe Lincoln forgiving Edwin Stanton. Holding grudges or prideful anger blunts or blocks the Holy Spirit in us Christians when we’re unwilling to forgive others.
The Apostle Peter knew directly what it was like to be forgiven and redeemed by the love of Christ (see passages in John 18 & 21); and that’s why he later exhorted other fellow, Christians [see highlight passage] to allow God’s love to flow out of our lives to others when we reach out to forgive them. Truly … sharing God’s love by forgiving others does “cover a multitude of sins.”
So, whom do we need to show the love of God toward today by doing all we can to forgive others?
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for forgiving me.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here can, and will, join me today to reach out to others when You give us the opportunity to share Your forgiving love. … 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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