33 - Connecting w/ God

Dr Jim Brown's TruNorth Devotional
CONNECTING with GOD
Day  33 | FORGIVE AS YOU WERE FORGIVEN
FORGIVE AS YOU WERE FORGIVEN

Colossians 3:13
Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
  (NLT)

Have you noticed that people are people?  That the problems they had “way back then” are the same problems we have now?

Paul, by the Spirit of God, was telling this church, and us too, to be prepared to forgive offenses – which are inevitable – from other brothers and sisters in Christ.

No one in Christ really plans to offend others.  But as the “old sin nature” is never completely snuffed out in this life… from time to time, it will rear its ugly head and say or do something to offend or hurt another brother or sister in Christ.

I know many people get tired of having to “forgive and let it go,” especially if from repeat offenders. Yet, Paul reminds the reader of his letter that the Lord has forgiven us and continues to forgive.  And, we are to imitate Christ.

In fact being a Christian – or better, a Follower of Jesus – requires us to try to live, think, act, and talk like Jesus did.

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.’”  (Matthew 18:21-22)

Once again, the Spirit of God KNEW that we would need this encouragement in order to live with other Believers.

The Scripture doesn’t call us to live like hermits, but in community with other imperfect (like us) Believers.  In order for us all to not self-destruct, we need to have a forgiving heart and be willing to do what is needed.

Prayer: Lord, help me never to forget ALL that you have forgiven in me.  Help me therefore to be forgiving to others in Christ.  Amen.