FORGIVENESS KEY

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“Forgiveness is the gateway to the kingdom”

– Nate Chrisman

A wise summation from a young and vibrant Pastor who was sharing and applying some thoughts from this well-known passage yesterday.

Matthew 6:12

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Nate hit an important point right on the head for all of us. 

Without FORGIVENESS, that gift given at the CROSS of CALVARY, there is no door to GOD’S Kingdom; no options for us the sinners; no hope, no future.

But GOD through Christ opened the door to eternity, removed the sin and gave the “worst of us the best of Him”.

Romans 5:8

God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

But Nate went further as he shared. He pointed out that the gift of forgiveness doesn’t stop there; it isn’t confined to the CROSS.  Rather as a result of Christ’s gift, we must be quick to offer and quick to deliver forgiveness in the same way Christ did for us; to complete the command found in Matthew 6 and here in Colossians 3 as well.

Colossians 3:13

Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

That completes forgiveness!  That opens the gate!

That can be tough to remember when we have been wronged or betrayed and can be a difficult order when we have been hurt or disenfranchised by another.

But GOD calls us to be gracious; to love; to offer forgiveness quickly and completely.  In fact FORGIVENESS for the Christian needs to be “over the top”.

Matthew 18:22

Peter came to him and asked, “Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?” “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!

And while at times that can seem a tall order, Jesus knew the amazing power of forgiveness.  He knew that forgiveness removed the opportunity for bitterness and anger.  He knew that forgiveness allows for relationships to heal and continue rather than to die in grudge. Jesus knew that forgiving others was KEY for us to truly experience a relationship with the FATHER.

Mark 11:25

When you pray, if you remember anyone who has wronged you, forgive him so that God above can also forgive you.

So today, be quick to pray that prayer of forgiveness from Matthew 6 over yourself; be quick to offer forgiveness to others but most of all be grateful that you ARE FORGIVEN!

Psalm 103:10-14

We sinned against him, but he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved. His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children.

Thank you Nate for a good word and reminder!

(www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEdgNJexl3Q)

I love you all!

Have a blessed day today…

Freedom Church

 

Pastor GDelaney