Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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The Forgiving Christ
Colossians 3:1-13
Vs 13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
For Jesus, forgiveness is of paramount importance. Jesus wants us to love one another as he has loved us, and he explained, others will know that we are his disciples by the love we have for one another (John 15:12). However, our love is imperfect. We damage our relationship with God and with others when we sin. Jesus often spoke about forgiveness, forgave those who sinned against others, forgave those who sinned against him, and asked the Church to continue his healing ministry. Jesus taught, “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you” (Mathew 6:14). Peter asked Jesus how often it is necessary to forgive, and Jesus replied, “Seventy-seven times” (Mathew 18:22), a number to be taken symbolically, not literally, for the never-ending way that we ought to forgive.

Jesus was extremely kind and merciful in the way he forgave those who sinned against others. Jesus told the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5); when a sinful woman bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, Jesus said, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48); when a woman caught in adultery was brought before him, he said, “I do not condemn you” (John 8:11); and as Jesus hung on the cross he told the repentant criminal, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). Even more compelling is the way Jesus forgave those who sinned against him directly. For Jesus, forgiveness was not automatic, it was intentional, a conscious choice. After the Roman soldiers had scourged and nailed him, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34).

Jesus is asking us to do something that is humanly impossible. In and of ourselves we don't have enough forgiveness to go around. But God does. So, when our limited resources run out and we are unable to forgive, we can ask him to forgive others through us. In doing so, we take one more step of obedience and allow ourselves to become a conduit of God's grace.
 
PRAYER
Lord God please send us your Holy Spirit to help us obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of our life. In Jesus holy name we pray, Amen.
 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
In Christ, we have everything we need for joy - the forgiveness of our sins, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a purpose worth living for, and the assurance of eternity with God.

Sujit Francis, Mar Thoma Church Staten Island
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church

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