3/4/21 Day 40

TODAY'S VERSE: 3/4/21 Day 40

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.  Instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ Jesus has forgiven you.”  John 1:9

 

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Desmond Tutu rose to the position of Arch Bishop in the country of South Africa. He led in the struggle against apartheid. One of the positions he held during this time was chairing the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation. “No Future Without Reconciliation” was its slogan. Archbishop Tutu believed in its truth that he made it a title of one of his books. He believed forgiveness to be the most powerful thing in the world. Forgiveness transforms like nothing else. It brings healing. It removes a burden that can crush the life out of a relationship and a family. Forgiveness allows us to stand up straight without pretending. It also possesses the power to release the quiet secret, horror of personal guilt and shame, which can quite literally paralyze a person. Forgiveness can bring healing when nothing else can. 

N.T. Wright, biblical scholar sites in his book Simply Jesus how forgiveness and healing go together, “Whole societies can be crippled by ancient grudges that turn feuds into forms of civil war. Families can be torn apart by a single incident or one person’s behavior that is never faced and so is never forgiven. “And when this is the results, writes Dr. Wright, “there remains that wound that never is healed.” Sadly, we all know the feeling because we all have been there. 

Is there someone who needs your forgiveness or maybe the time has come for you to break the silence with “Please forgive me”?   

Pastor Dave Johnson

TODAY'S PRAYER

Lord, give me the desire and strength to forgive as you have forgiven me. You know the pain and the sorrow.  Bring healing for not just me but for others. Amen



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

17/2/21 Day 1

Image
TODAY'S VERSE:  17/2/21 Day 1 “To all who mourn … he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:3 TODAY'S DEVOTION: Oh, Snow! You charmed us with fresh beauty upon arrival but so quickly became a beast better suited for departure thanks for stopping by now please go ... we’re done with you even as you choose to stay with your record-setting mountains lining our sidewalks accompanied by whipping winds bone-chilling cold short gray days and long dark nights    tempting us to hibernate and cancel life for a season. Oh, Spring! How our collective soul longs for the Creator to make all things new. Surround us again with signs of new life –   songbirds, blooming trees and a full palette of lost color – promised changes that will fill our hearts with hope!   Our weary world waits for warmer days, and a Sabbath to praise our Savior again,   a family reunited...
Read more

18/2/21 Day 2

Image
TODAY'S VERSE:  18/2/21 Day 2 "When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who now they are sinners.” Mark 2:17   TODAY'S DEVOTION: Have you ever wondered what the qualifications are for being a part of what God is up to? Maybe more specifically, have you ever questioned if you are (or someone else is) a “good enough person” to share the Good News of Jesus? If so, you aren’t alone. But, here’s the good news … Early on in his ministry, there were a lot of people who were more than a little surprised by Jesus. In fact, a lot of religious people were down right offended by what he was doing and who he was doing it with. Not only was Jesus reaching out to those who were on the fringes, but he started to call those same people to be a part of the movement he was starting. Today we are living in the response to Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday we are re...
Read more

24/2/21 Day 7

Image
TODAY'S VERSE: 24/2/21 Day 7 “And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.” - Mark 6:5   TODAY'S DEVOTION: I’ve always said you can tell a lot by someone’s posture.  Take a look around you next time you are surrounded by people. Body language can tell you a lot about what’s on someone's mind. Take students in a classroom for example. When a teacher engages kindergartners who have just come in from recess, what kind of posture do you envision? I envision urgently reaching for the sky as they raise their hands. Compare this with a sophomore English class and I’m guessing you’d agree, it will probably be much different. Our posture (physical and otherwise) says a lot about us, and it’s pretty evident when we look at Jesus’ ministry. In Mark 6, Jesus has rolled back into his hometown and their posture isn’t good. People seem to be fixated on the Jesus they grew up wit...
Read more