Called to Forgive

Called to Forgive

Forgiving has a tendency to make us feel uncomfortable at times. Sometimes we hold on to things in our humanity because we feel we are justified in clinging to our anger. But as God's children, we are called to forgive, just as our Father forgives us.

We cannot justify our own behavior based on the actions of another.

We cannot refuse to forgive others, nor pridefully neglect or excuse the sins in our own lives because someone else is with sin.

When we commit an offense against another, we are commanded to attempt to make to peace with them, even before we approach The Throne of Grace.

We are called to forgive as often and as many times as it takes.

Only God knows the affairs of the heart and what each individual is personally dealing with. He is our Banner...we must have faith in His power and desire to deal with things according to His holiness and righteousness.

Our job is to follow His Truth and the promptings of The Holy Spirit...to partner with Him in our own transformation and heart cleansing...and to forgive.

Let us petition The Lord of hosts to remove the power of offenses in our lives; surrender to Him any bitterness we harbor in our hearts. Let us pray for forgiveness of others and self...as often and as many times as it takes.

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 7:2
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:3
Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?

Matthew 18:35
This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Luke 6:37
Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

A God Who Completes!

Father God,

I pray that today and every day we will be more fully persuaded and have a renewed confidence in this truth: You are a God who completes!

Lord, You lack nothing and we know that You do not not abandon ANY work You have ordained. For, You are The All Sufficient One and You are only capable of complete perfection!

Father, thank You for beginning the work of Grace within us and for comforting us with Your Truth. You alone will see through to completion Your work in us...according to Your Will...in order to accomplish Your Perfect Plan!

Thank You, Lord, that Your Promises include for us an everlasting life. We humbly praise and thank You for the atoning sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, so that we may dwell with You for eternity.

Father, we pray for strength of endurance as we set our eyes on Your Kingdom and we give You all the Glory!

In the name of our holy and righteous Savior, Jesus Christ,

Amen!

Irrevocable

Praise God that His grace, mercy, promises, love, forgiveness, redemption and salvation are never ending and unchanging.

Take heart that no matter what circumstances you find yourself in today, our God is mightier. He knows all about yesterday, today and tomorrow. He has gone before you and prepared a way, according to His predestined purpose, because He loves you.

His love for you is pure, passionate, promised and predestined. And, there is absolutely nothing that you can do to alter His love for you. For His gifts and His call are irrevocable...

Romans 8:30
And those He predestined He also called, those He called He also justified, those He justified He also glorified.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 1:4
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love...

2 Timothy 1:9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our own works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time eternal.

Titus 1:2
...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.

Ephesians 3:18
...may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love...

Romans 8:39
...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord...

Encountering God

To this point in Job’s story, he has defended himself to his friends. When they hinted that perhaps there was something shady in his background, Job denied it. “I have been honest and fair. I have contributed to my community and maintained my integrity. “ When he looked he looked at himself in the light of others, Job came out looking pretty good.

We like comparing ourselves with others. When we make others the standard for righteousness, we often come out looking good. “ I am not perfect, but I am a lot better that he is.” But in the end, we won’t be judged by the standards of others. The standard by which we will be judged is Jesus Christ.

When Job turned his eyes toward God, his view of himself changed. He said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” He who had maintained his integrity suddenly saw himself in the light of God’s holiness and purity. Seeing his own filth, he repented.

You may pride yourself in your accomplishments or successes. But mark this, when you see a proud man, You see a man who has not yet encountered God.

Because once you truly see God, there is no place for pride – even if you are a minister, a president, or the Pope. Once a person truly sees God, the result is deep contrition and humility. The result is a repentant heart – a heart that cries out, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

by Pastor Chuck Smith
Wisdom for Today

Truth and Mercy

May our hearts be softened to receive and reciprocate the truth and mercy of The Gospel of Christ.

For, when we allow this to be written in our hearts - truly receiving what He has so freely given to us - we will extend this same mercy, kindness, forgiveness, hope, help, compassion and love to others.

When we cling to and walk sincerely and diligently in His truth and love, our lamps burn bright as a beacon to God's hurting children, that they might also be led to His truth and find comfort in the arms of our Father.

It is, after all, the way of Christ...for He is steadfast in His love, grace and mercy to us us...forevermore.

John 1:17
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Psalm 89:33
Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Let our hearts be united in The Holy Spirit and bear the image of our Heavenly Father...

Let us support and encourage one another in our supernatural union...strengthening and spurring each other on to good deeds...carrying our brethren's burdens in brotherly love and with mutual edification...as true imitators of Christ and in fulfillment of His Law.

Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

Hebrews 13:1
Continue in brotherly love.

1 Peter 1:22
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth, so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.

Romans 12:10
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

Galatians 6:2
Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ.

Philippians 2:4
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.

Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.

Ecclesiastes 4:10
For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.

John 15:12
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you.

Delivered

Unfortunately, none of us has an automatic detour to prevent us from encountering valleys in our human journey. We live in a sin-stained world and there is no perfection on this side of Eternity. However, as believers, we have a choice not to wander in the wilderness. If we are walking with Jesus, we are never lost!

In these seasons that try our souls and test our faith, we must have hope and fix our gaze on the eternal prize that awaits us. Our faithful God of unlimited resources will enable us to navigate in perfect peace if we place unwavering faith in Him. God is ever-present and always offers us spiritual and emotional protection. God alone is our means of overcoming every temptation placed before us. He is our anchor, hope and comfort when we are faced with uncertainty, adversity and heartache.

And if we do get momentarily derailed, our Heavenly Father is waiting with welcoming arms for His prodigal children. He alone holds the power to remove bondage and restore us to the path of righteousness. Deliverance is just a prayer away, and we are never beyond the reach of our Shepherd.

Lord, we pray for Your deliverance in the wilderness of our momentary troubles, and that You will enable us to maintain the eternal compass of Jesus Christ. We trust You to stretch and bend us according to Your will, and lead us to Your peaceful and living waters. Our hope, faith, peace and rest is in You alone.

In The Name of Jesus, our Refuge, Redeemer and Deliverer,

Amen.

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

1 Peter 2:25
For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Luke 15:20
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Isaiah 53:6
All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

John 10:11
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

Ezekiel 34:15
"I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD.

Psalm 34:17
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles.

Zechariah 9:12
Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; This very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Romans 8:18
I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and temporary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that far outweighs our troubles.

Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. He will lead them to fountains of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.