Good morning.
To begin, I have just a couple of questions:
1) When is forgiveness hardest?
2) How can you trust the Holy Spirit to help you forgive?
Out of Our Daily Bread, Dave Branon reported:
“A 2021 news report told of seventeen missionaries that had been kidnapped by a gang. The gang threatened to kill the group (including some children) if their ransom demands weren’t met.
Incredibly, all the missionaries either were released or escaped to freedom. On reaching safety, they sent a message to their captors:
‘Jesus taught us by word and by his own example that the power of forgiving love is stronger than the hate of violent force. Therefore, we extend forgiveness to you.’ “
During his brief time on earth, Jesus made it clear that forgiveness is powerful. He said:
“If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt 16:14).
Forgiveness at its fullest can be realized when both parties move toward healing and reconciliation. But, it’s funny that when I make a really big mistake, I wonder if there can be grace and forgiveness for me. With and through Jesus, yes there can be! And all the more in my ability to extend grace and mercy to others.
Finally, on my exercise walk around the cemetery, recently one of the workers there finally asked me what I thought, or believed about heaven and the hereafter.
I mentioned that one of the things that makes Jesus completely unique is that he taught a measure of forgiveness that is extravagant (70×7). But, then when he experienced undeserved violation and trauma that he’d not deserved and, as He was laid upon the cross in suffering and pain, the writer Luke noted he did not shout angry profanity-laced words at his tormentors. Instead, Jesus said:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk 23:34).
“Don’t you think this makes Jesus more reliable?”
“You’ve given me a lot to think about.”
More film at 11.
I’m excited that we will have Gabriel Andreson sharing more film and Scripture with us this coming Sunday in the God in film sermon series.
See you on the path,
Seth
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