Nov 09 2021

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

In this morning's verse, Jesus tells His disciple Peter about the importance of forgiving other people, especially when he is praying. Jesus underscores the importance of this by suggesting that forgiving other people makes it possible for God to forgive us. Today, let's think about how it is possible to forgive people and why expressing forgiveness is a vital part of the Christian life.

Jesus acknowledges that we will have to forgive people in our lives. We may sometimes feel like we're the only ones who are in dire need of forgiveness, but everyone around us needs it too. At the same time, we have to make the conscious decision to forgive other people. We can't expect the Lord to forgive us if we hoard unforgiveness toward others in our own hearts.

What we need to constantly keep in mind is the grace that God has already shown us. We were all helpless in sin, unable to unlock the chains that bound us to it relentlessly. We were unable to have a relationship with a holy God… but Jesus made a way. He atoned for our sins once and for all. Now, to be in good standing with the Lord, we can call upon His name and surrender to Him. Because of Jesus, our salvation is an act of grace. We never have to question our standing with the Lord … we know that we are His children.

The natural response to our salvation is to show grace to other people. Because Jesus lives in us, we are able to forgive others. When we forgive other people, we are mirroring what Jesus did for us when He saved us. We are living by grace alone, assured that it is enough. We are also recognizing the all-encompassing power of the cross to cover every sin and every hurt, reminding us that God sees about and cares for every wound and every flaw.

Dear Lord, thank you so much for forgiving me for all that I've done wrong. I would be nowhere if I did not have your grace in my life, and I am so grateful for it. Please help me to forgive and show me areas of my life where I have not forgiven those who have harmed me. In Jesus' name, amen.

Nov 08 2021

:

Add to Favorites

← View Last Verse View Next Verse →