June 25, 2020


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Today's Bible Verse
"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."
Luke 17:3-4 (KJV)



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Today's Bible Study
Jesus is talking to His disciples in this verse, saying that if someone sins against them, there should be no limit to the amount of forgiveness they offer; that no one can sin too severely to be redeemed. This is a reminder for us today--the need to be willing to forgive, time after time after time. Today, we'll consider why this is so important and how we can follow it in our everyday lives.

What is forgiveness? Contrary to what is often believed, forgiveness is not saying that something is okay … because if something was okay, there would be no need for forgiveness. Instead, it's acknowledging that an offense was made, and then pardoning it. It means that no ill will or retribution will be sought. You do not have to be best friends with a person who wronged you, but you are called to offer that person forgiveness.


When we forgive other people, we are modeling the forgiveness that the Lord has shown us. We can never meditate too much on the mercies of the Lord; it would serve us well to remember with gratitude the many times that we have come before the Lord and been washed clean by the blood of Jesus. Often, we don't understand the depth of forgiveness until we have been deeply hurt by another person. The worst hurt you have experienced in your life is nothing compared to sinning against a holy God. The grace that we show other people pales in comparison to the grace that we have received from the Lord. When we truly understand this, we will be able, as Jesus says in today's verse, to forgive people over and over again.



There is great freedom in forgiveness. When we harbor anger or hatred against another person, we are allowing those feelings to control us. Forgiveness is a relief for the other person--but surrendering our negative emotions about something is freeing us in the process. It helps us focus on the Lord above all else, reminding us that He is the sole arbiter of justice, and remembering the grace that we have received.

Today's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for forgiving me time after time. Thank you for never turning away a contrite heart. Help me to forgive other people quickly, always remembering the love that you have shown me. In Jesus's name, amen.
Yesterday's Devotional
June 24, 2020
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Yesterday's Bible Verse
"Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed."
Psalm 6:2 (KJV)



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Yesterday's Bible Study
In this verse from Psalm 6, King David is crying out to the Lord for healing. He is broken in body and spirit and desperately needs the Lord's help. Today, there is much we can learn from David's plea and begin to apply to our lives.

The first lesson we can learn is that David made his need clear to the Lord. He did not come timidly, beating around the bush, but instead stated his need outright: he wanted mercy and healing from the Lord. We can emulate David's prayers. When we need something, we don't have to say it eloquently. We don't have to be able to explain what we think the problem is, or how to fix it. We merely need to state our need for healing.


The second is that David knew who to turn to when he was in pain. He knew the Lord could heal him, so he went to the Lord. He did not try to fix himself, go to a sorcerer, or avoid the issue. David acknowledged his own needs and took them straight to the Lord; we would be wise to do the same.

Our third lesson is that the Bible acknowledges the reality of our pain. David was called a "man after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14). He was very close to the Lord and loved Him deeply--but David also suffered greatly. And the same may be true of us; because we are near to the Lord does not necessarily mean we won't struggle with pain on this Earth. We know, however, that God will always be with us and love us, no matter what we are going through.

When you need healing or even simply an extra dose of mercy, be like King David. Call upon the Lord and ask Him to intervene on your behalf in the way that only a mighty, merciful, and loving God can.
Yesterday's Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for being merciful. Thank you for being a God of healing who cares about our physical bodies, emotional wellbeing, and mental health. Thank you for meeting me right where I am and for loving me. In Jesus's name, amen.
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