August 7, 2021 … Christlike Forgiveness …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 219 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West singing  … Forgiveness … Poignantly singing of how we, as disciples of Christ must be willing to forgive others as the Lord has forgiven us. 

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Highlight Passage:   Genesis 33:4 [NIV] …  

4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.  

… Esau, who had been wronged by Jacob, who stole Esau’s birthright, ran to Jacob in spirit of Godly forgiveness.         

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Highlight Passage [Context] : …  Genesis 33:1-11 [NIV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  The story of Jacob and Esau reconciling in a spirit of mutual forgiveness.      

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 103:10-14 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK … 

… David sings of our compassionate and forgiving God, showing us how we should be to others. 

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 1:18 [NLT] … 

18 “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.“Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. 

… God will show His love and compassion - with forgiveness - to those who are willing to forgive and reconcile with others.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:14-15 [NLT] … 

14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.  

… Jesus clearly teaches that anyone who follows Him must be willing to forgive others as God is willing to forgive us.   

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. 

… Paul charges fellow Christians to set aside petty human feelings of anger or bitterness and be willing to forgive others just as Christ has forgiven us. 

Reference 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.  

… Again, … Paul strongly exhorts fellow Christians that we MUST forgive others who have wronged us, … just like the Lord has forgiven us.       

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Raybon, AT THIS LINK … writes of two Christian friends who let racial enmity get in the way of their friendship until they were brought back into close quarters in a mutual ministry venture, which caused them to look at their mutual and unChristian feelings, which ultimately led to forgiveness and reconciliation.  

And that example is what we all should use, letting forgiveness be the key which allows us, who have been forgiven by the Lord. to set aside petty human feelings; … and as in the Scriptures above COMMAND us … to forgive others - yes, even those who’ve wronged us.  That was certainly what happened between Jacob and Esau (in the highlight passage), wasn’t it?  And that is the model we should follow when we have someone in our lives whom we need to forgive, … setting aside our very human feelings of anger, and most certainly sinful bitterness, and simply forgiving that one, no matter how difficult it may be, … forgiving them as our Lord has forgiven us. 

So, if there is someone on our minds right now, whom we’ve held out ,even very natural, feelings of anger, distrust, or even bitterness, … I pray we follow God’s charge for us to go, like Jacob did to Esau, and seek reconciliation.  And we can be sure that God will be with us when we do, showing His love and grace for us as we choose to show our love and forgiveness to others.  And if you have someone, especially one whom you feel you have justification to withhold your forgiveness, PLEASE - I beg you - to hear Matthew West singing about Godly forgiveness in the linked song … and then go do what God is calling you to do … forgive that someone and be forgiven by Your Lord.       

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for giving  me Your forgiveness and then giving me the love/grace to show my forgiveness to others. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to set aside natural feelings today and reach out to forgive anyone whom God is calling us to forgive today.  … 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.