Subscription Lists
The Focus
by Dennis Wheeler
I had lunch with a friend yesterday and we were discussing some possible sermon topics for the coming weeks and months. We talked about a subject that is drawing a lot of attention today even in the secular market...the issue of FORGIVENESS.
Dr. Phil is talking about the healthy benefits of forgiveness...books on 'forgiveness' are becoming best-sellers...talk shows are even jumping on this bandwagon.
And yet, the Bible approached and handled this topic many years ago!
Mark 11:25 - "When you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins too." (NLT)
It's a fact that when someone hurts us unfairly and walks away without repenting or apologizing - it hurts! And the hurt festers inside until it becomes bitterness which taints our attitudes and actions...and that makes us miserable. There's only one cure for this downward spiral - - FORGIVENESS.
Forgiveness is choosing to let someone off the hook of accountability to us for their actions - - even though what they did was wrong. It's deciding to allow God to deal with that person's wrongdoing, rather than stewing over it and trying to deal with it on our own.
Most certainly Jesus knows how hard forgiveness can be. He Himself performed the greatest act of forgiveness on the cross when He took all of our sins and paved the way for us to have a relationship with His Father. Some of His final words were...'Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing.'
Likewise, Mark 11:25 commands us to release any grudges we might hold and make forgiveness available to those who have sinned against us.
I believe this is called 'grace'. Giving what is needed instead of what is deserved!
May your journey this week be filled with forgivness and reflect His abundant grace!!
He serves as the Senior Pastor with southwest Virginia church... a loving church family in Abingdon.
He and his wife Sharon have been married for over 27 years and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, one son-in-law, and two precious grandchildren, the second arrived arrived on the scene in September 2004!!
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "The Focus" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.