Forgiveness

During the COVID pandemic in 2020, many schools closed. People lost their jobs or worked from home. Close quarters, high emotions, and worries about the future created the perfect storm for cross words, blame, and anger. 

Trying times like a pandemic are not the only times storms can brew. How wisely do we relate to one another during those times? Do we withhold or give forgiveness? Do we confess when we have been wrong and attempt to make things right? First John 1:9 provides important spiritual guidance about what we are to do when we have sinned. John writes, “If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

God is faithful and righteous. He calls us to be faithful and righteous, also. We are to confess our sins. When we do, He extends mercy and forgives us. We are then to extend mercy and forgive others. 

How can we do this? We ask Jesus to fill us and live His life through us. When we do, the storm that might have destroyed relationships becomes an opportunity for those closest to us to see Jesus – maybe for the first time or in a new way. 

Lord Jesus, thank You that You are with me in the storms of life. Thank You that You are a FORGIVING GOD. Thank You for showing me how to forgive others. Fill me. Live Your life through me so others see and believe in You.

Would you like to learn more about standing firm in God’s grace and peace in the storms of life? Get a copy of Debbie’s 1 Peter Bible Study, Experiencing Grace and Peace in Cultural Chaos, HERE. The study is perfect for personal or group study and includes free accompanying videos and podcasts, which you can access HERE. 

 

Have you ever needed someone to extend mercy to you? You did something wrong, thoughtless, or perhaps careless. You felt bad and desired forgiveness. You asked to be forgiven. What if their heart was hardened and they said, “no”? And how horrible it would be if our Heavenly Father refused to forgive us. Quite the opposite. 

Second Corinthians 1:3 tells us that God is the Father of mercies. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.” 

Mercy flows from our Father. It’s His nature. He is the original transmitter of mercy. So when you go to a Christian sister or brother and ask forgiveness and they extend mercy, they are a reflection of their Father—the Father of mercies. 

The good news doesn’t stop with God being a transmitter of mercy and our Christian brothers and sisters being transmitters of mercy. The good news is we can be transmitters of mercy also, reflections of our Father. 

In today’s culture, it can be easy sometimes for a person to be offended. They may hold grudges and not want to forgive or extend mercy. However, what a precious opportunity it is for believers to show mercy as our Heavenly Father does. Let’s make it a point to do this well. 

FATHER OF MERCIES, thank You for extending mercy to me. May I be quick to extend mercy to others and reflect well on You. 

If you enjoyed this content and want to watch video teachings by Debbie, consider subscribing to her YouTube channel. Go HERE and click the subscribe button to be notified of new teachings.

 

Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Do you feel betrayed? If so, the apostle Paul can relate. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 he recounts what he experienced while serving Christ. 

“In far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.” 

After reading Paul’s experiences, you may wonder how Paul continued day after day. We find his answer in Romans 15:5. 

“Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement…” 

There we have it. Paul knew Jesus as One who gives perseverance and encouragement. We can, too, by going to Jesus in prayer, opening our Bibles, and hearing from Him. 

Lord Jesus, I praise You for being an ENCOURAGING God. Help me keep my eyes on You and my ears open to Your encouragement so I may persevere in a way that glorifies You, as Paul did.

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Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Are you down on yourself or disappointed in someone? Do you feel betrayed? The apostle Paul, whom God used mightily, had ample opportunity to be discouraged. Lonely nights. Conflicting opinions among believers. Physical sufferings. Wrongful imprisonments. Yet, in Romans 15:5-6 he writes, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul got his encouragement from God. He got his encouragement from singing praises to Him. If we’re down, what can we do? Turn off the TV. Go to God in prayer. Open our Bibles. Receive His encouragement.

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for ENCOURAGING us in our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You. 

Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Are you down on yourself or disappointed in someone? Do you feel betrayed? The apostle Paul, whom God used mightily, had ample opportunity to be discouraged. Lonely nights. Conflicting opinions among believers. Physical sufferings. Wrongful imprisonments. Yet, in Romans 15:5-6 he writes, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul got his encouragement from God. He got his encouragement from singing praises to Him. If we’re down, what can we do? Turn off the TV. Go to God in prayer. Open our Bibles. Receive His encouragement.

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for ENCOURAGING us in  our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You. 

Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Are you down on yourself or disappointed in someone? Do you feel betrayed? The apostle Paul, whom God used mightily, had ample opportunity to be discouraged. Lonely nights. Conflicting opinions among believers. Physical sufferings. Wrongful imprisonments. Yet, in Romans 15:5-6 he writes, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul got his encouragement from God. He got his encouragement from singing praises to Him. If we’re down, what can we do? Turn off the TV. Go to God in prayer. Open our Bibles. Receive His encouragement.

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for ENCOURAGING us deep down, in our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You. 

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Are you down or discouraged? Do you feel the heaviness of oppression? Are you down on yourself or disappointed in someone? Do you feel betrayed? The apostle Paul, whom God used mightily, had ample opportunity to be discouraged. Lonely nights. Conflicting opinions among believers. Physical sufferings. Wrongful imprisonments. Yet, in Romans 15:5-6, he writes, “Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul got his encouragement from God. He got his encouragement from singing praises to Him. If we’re down, what can we do? Turn off the TV. Go to God in prayer. Open our Bibles. Receive His encouragement.

Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for ENCOURAGING us deep down, in our innermost beings. Help us persevere by keeping our minds on You. 

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