Forgiveness Devotional

The following devotional on forgiveness comes courtesy of singer/songwriter Rebecca St. James. I have modified some of the links. Please print this page for your own devotional or small group study.

Forgiveness

When I watch and listen to this video I'm moved to worship God for His grace towards me and also to realize my own sin. It's a video really of confession—something that's too often absent in our lives as Christians … to our own detriment. This video reminds me of the everlasting beauty of God's grace.
The grace of God's forgiveness exists in a world where revenge is too often the course of human nature. On a recent missions trip to Rwanda, I came face-to-face with the awesome wonders that can be accomplished through the nature of God's forgiveness. There in the heart of Africa I saw first-hand the horror the Rwandan people went through just a short decade ago when the country was held in the grasp of a national genocide. Neighbors killing neighbors, family members killing each other—everybody was involved at some level and affected by the genocide. I heard some of the worst stories I've ever heard in my life. People who had their families killed—drowned—or their throat slit—or tortured. I saw a church where the skulls of some of the victims are to this day displayed—at the very spot they were killed while praying for sanctuary. It survives as a memorial to the time when in 100 short days more than one million people were slaughtered. My heart was torn with the thought: “What if it had my family who had been tortured and killed?”

But there in the middle of Africa in a country that was destroyed from the inside with violence, I also saw first-hand the remarkable power of God's command that we “forgive one another, as we have been forgiven.” The current President of Rwanda—who is a Christian—has instituted a national policy of “no revenge.” People are actually not allowed by law to seek revenge. They've adopted a policy of forgiveness that has allowed a huge healing in their country to take place and allowed an open door for God's love and restoration to be welcomed. I saw the beautiful, smiling faces of the Rwandan people--faces that were alive with the love of Jesus as they work side-by-side with a sense of community and common purpose that could only be born out of true healing—and the application of God's commandment “to forgive.”

-Rebecca

This is where God's forgiveness really becomes a true example of the power of His “amazing grace” towards us. We exchange our weakness for His strength. We recognize that we are forgiven through the shed blood of God's own Son when we accepted the gift of salvation and eternal life that came to us through Jesus death on the cross. God is faithful to forgive us anew each time we come to Him and truly repent and ask for His forgiveness. Forgiveness is a free gift from God but it cost Him a tremendous price. He has paid for our forgiveness through the sacrifice of His own dear Son.
Sometimes it is easier to forgive others than to forgive ourselves. As the song Forgive Me says: “For all the times I've failed you Lord…for all the times I've fallen short…forgive me.” These are words we need to remember—true daily prayers we can utter as recognition of our shortcomings and true repentance for our sins. A pure heart before God is the lifeline to our spiritual walk with Him—the channel that keeps us connected to Him will remain unbroken through the sincerity of two small words—“forgive me”-- meeting the miracle of His unending supply of forgiveness and mercy.

Reflections:

1. “Is there anywhere in my life that I need the Lord's forgiveness?” (You can list them here.)

___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ If so, ask him for His forgiveness. “Lord, I'm sorry for _______. Will you please forgive me and help me to keep my eyes on you?” You can rest assured that His answer is always a big “YES!!” accompanied with a smile. Secondly, “Is there anyone I might have hurt or offended and need to ask their forgiveness?” Make it a point to ask that person/those people. 1 John 1:9 “ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Acts 13:38 "Therefore… I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Hebrews 8:12 “ For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." 2. “Are there people in my life that have offended me or hurt me?” They could be people that you don't know or people that you are close to. Friends, family, co-workers - even pastors or teachers. They can also be the person who cut you off in traffic this morning… (You can list them here.) ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ If so, forgive them in your heart. Forgiveness is a choice of love, regardless of what was done. It's a choice that is independent of whether or not that person apologized. “Lord, with you as my witness, I forgive ______ and bless them in Jesus' name.” 2 Corinthians 2:10 ”If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake…” Luke 11:4 (The Lord's prayer) “…f orgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us..." Mark 11:25 “ And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." 3. “Are there places in my life that I feel ashamed for what I have done and need to forgive myself?” (You can list them here.) ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ This is a powerful question. It is often much easier to forgive someone else over yourself. But the Lord's “grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ) and his “love lasts forever” (Psalms 136 ). And therefore, you have the power to forgive yourself and extend the same love and grace to yourself. “…And Lord, I choose to forgive myself.”

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