Week One
Memory Verse:
And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
Luke 17:6
Weekly Challenge:
Take steps of faith this week to hand your
pain over to Jesus, ask Him to increase your faith and help you move in the
direction of forgiveness and healing.
Read Luke 17:1-4; SOAP Luke 17:3-4
This passage makes me think of accountability in the body of Christ. One of the distinctions between believers and unbelievers is that we are willing to confront each other in love. We must approach a brother or sister who is caught up in sin to help bring repentance. The kicker is that we must also receive the erring brother back into the fold with love after he repents.
Father, help me not to yield to temptation and cause someone else to stumble. Give me the courage to address sin and warn others of its danger. Help me forgive others as many times as you have forgiven me.
It's so cool how God gives us exactly what we need exalt when we need it. I have been dealing with this very thing with a family member seems like a lot lately. The verse that really hit me wasn't in today's ready but was in a side note in my bible relating to today's verses. It is Colossians 3:13 "bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do." Lord, please help me to not be the person who offends but be the person who forgives 7 + times.
ReplyDeleteKim, you are so right that forgiveness is difficult. I am praying for you now.
DeleteForgiveness is spoken of throughout the Bible: through examples and through commands.
ReplyDelete"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." Matthew 6:14
Somethings are harder to forgive than others. Some things have taken God to change my heart. But, with God, forgiveness is possible for anything. What a good reminder.
Jen, you are spot on about forgiveness only being possible with God. He gives us unbelievable grace to forgive even when it is undeserved. Great thoughts.
DeleteThis made me smile. When I think about my 12-year-old self, it is a miracle anyone put up with me! God's grace and longsuffering with us is unbelievable.
ReplyDelete