🍲 *SHABACH YESHUA ENDLESS GOODNESS DAILY DEVOTIONAL–* Wednesday 8th February 2023 *TOPIC:* *FORGIVE*

 

🔑 *KEY VERSE:* 

"And be kind to one another, even as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32, NKJV).

📖 *TODAY'S READING:* 

Matthew 6:11-15

📜 *ONE YEAR BIBLE STUDY PLAN* 

Exodus 28-29

 *COMMENTARY* 

Forgiveness means letting go of past grudges or lingering anger against a person or persons. It is a conscious and deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person or persons. Vindictiveness is not of God. God is forgiving. The Psalmist said, "If you, Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?" But there is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared" ( Psalm 130:3-4, NKJV?

Forgiveness is one of the contents of the Lord's Prayer which He taught His disciples. He demonstrated it during His earthly ministry and finally on the cross of Calvary where He, against all odds, prayed for His executioners and said, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34). He also taught His disciples forgiveness in several places in the Bible (Matt. 18:32).

There are other biblical examples of forgiveness such as Abraham who forgave his nephew Lot after he had behaved unwisely towards him in the matter between his herdsmen and Lot. Abraham let go of the past offence and interceded for Lot when God was about to destroy Sodom (Gen. 18:23-33). Stephen, a deacon in the early church and the first Christian martyr forgave his executioners and prayed to God to forgive them (Acts 7:59, 60).

Why should we forgive?

 We should forgive because God is forgiving and we are made in His image (Gen 1:27). 

We should forgive because unforgivingness is sin and wickedness (Matt. 18:32). 

We should forgive so that we may be forgiven (Matt. 6:14, 15). We should forgive because we all are imperfect beings. 

We should forgive because of our differences and background. 

We should forgive because unforgivingness hinders prayers and blocks blessings while forgiveness is the key to personal peace, freedom and to releasing of blessings

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🎚 *CONTROLLING THOUGHTS* 

 One of the secrets of long, peaceful and fruitful life many believers do not know is forgiveness.

🙏🏿 *PRAYER* 

Lord, deliver me from the unforgiving spirit and malice. Guide me in the way of truth and help me to forgive people who offend me.

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