Topic: Christian Forgiveness
TEXT: Luke 17:1-10
1. Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come; but woe unto him, through whom they come!
It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
Take heed to yourselves; If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.
KEY VERSE:
“And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” – (Luke 17:4)
MESSAGE:
Forgiveness is a virtue of great value. The individual who has developed the grace of love and forgiveness rids himself of the pain and pangs that torment the unloving and unforgiving person.
The Lord in our passage enjoins us to clad ourselves with the garment of forgiveness. He, however, stressed on the certainty of offenses erupting among brethren but warned on the woes that would befall those who orchestrate such offenses.
The Lord further warned all to beware of hardness of heart and unforgiving spirit in daily matters. We are, according to Christ’s demand, required to forgive and forbear with anyone who has offended us by hurting our feelings but turns back to ask for pardon. We are duty-bound to forgive such a person no matter the number of times such infringements have occurred.
Christian forgiveness is a subject that requires grace and knowledge to practice, even amongst many believers today. To maintain a loving and forgiving spirit, we must have embraced Christ, appreciate His love and forgiveness towards us and in response extend the same to others as Christ has done unto us.
Apostle Paul caught the full picture of Christlike forgiveness when he wrote: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). Pleasing Christ should be the underlying reason and a guide to our reaction when offended by others. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is always sufficient for you when you are faced with this challenge.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Forgive others as Christ forgave you.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Chronicles 5-8
DCLM Daily Manna 21 July 2021 Deeper Life Devotional Message was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
