Try reading and meditating on one passage each day this week. See what God teaches you. Take at least ten minutes to read, reread, and ponder each passage. Meditate on it through the day to allow God to impact your spirit.
Day One Theme:
God does not like sin...it separates people from God...we all stand in need of forgiveness
Isaiah 59:1-2
1 Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated
you from your God;
your sins have hidden his face from you,
so that he will not hear.
Day Two Theme:
Forgiveness only happens in relationship ... relationship with God ... relationship with others
Matthew 6:9-15
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.a]">[a]' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Day Three Theme: Confession activates God's gift of forgiveness
I John 1:9
9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Day Four Theme: Joy and freedom are marks of forgiveness
Psalm 32:1-2
Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!
2 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
Day Five Theme: Forgiveness is a part of Christian character
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
In the end, forgiveness is at the heart of God's grace. Mutual forgiveness is the key to the Gospel of Christ. Here's the problem, forgiven people must always be forgiving! Put another way, only the forgiving can be forgiven. An unforgiving spirit becomes a barrier to knowing God and receiving the full blessing of living in the joy of the Lord. How many times must we forgive...only 70 times 7!
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