Tuesday, March 29, 2022 - Lent Day 24
REWATCH Sunday Worship - The Fourth Sunday in Lent - March 27, 2022
Rewatch yesterday’s service on facebook!
Sunday Worship - The Fifth Sunday in Lent - April 3, 2022
Join us this Sunday, April 3, 9:30 a.m., as we share The Fifth Sunday In Lent, “Driven Hearts, In Christ Alone!” Faith Quest Sunday School meets next Sunday!
Join us in-person or via our live stream efforts on Facebook for Lord of Life LIVE! Follow the link below and be sure to tap “Interested” or “Going” to receive notifications when we go live on facebook!
Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me
Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me
Melt me
Mold me
Fill me
Use me
Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”
“I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.””
Today's slightly extended devotion centers on forgiveness. Forgiveness is very personal. Forgiveness often means something different to different people, in different situations.
Through the years, one of the questions I have often asked couples working through things or tough times, is, 'Do you have ways of forgiving each other?' Often the response is mixed, one person will say, 'yes,' and the other person will say, 'no.' If your idea of saying you are sorry is giving flowers and candy, and you think once you bring the flowers and candy home you are forgiven, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. Likewise, if the flowers and candy are part of the ritual, just because you put the flowers in water and snack on a little of candy does not mean you have to move to forgiveness until you are ready.
My point is this - if one person does not know the other is truly sorry, how can they accept the apology and start the journey to forgiveness? And just as important, just because someone says they are sorry does not mean forgiveness must immediately follow. Sometimes forgiveness can only be real and complete after thorough reflection and proper grief.
Another critical point about forgiveness is this: Just because our society, just because much of our upbringing, teaches us to forgive and to forget; how do humans do this? Humans can forgive, and go forward from a new starting point. We can even find ways to say - 'What you did was not okay, and yet, we will be okay.' This does not imply anyone is able to forget. Personally, that those who love me, know I have hurt them and cannot forget, and yet, that they still forgive me and go forward with me is life saving. Grace such as this, is, The Spirit of the living God!
In the crucified and risen Christ, our God came to hear our every confession, and to reconcile us to God. How do we know the compassionate heart of our loving Father? In the grace of Christ alone! When we are truly sorry and confess to the Lord all our sins, every last one, we are graced to see just how completely personal the cross is! The Father keeps his heart on us! God's personal gift of forgiveness is given to each of us, one and all!
Let us pray: Lord, I wish I could forget all that I have ever done to hurt you or those you love and those whom I love. Through your faithfulness, keep your heart on me. May I truly feel, the Spirit of my living God fall afresh, personally, on me, in Christ alone. In the name of Jesus, I am okay, my relationship with you is so much more than okay, I am new, I go forward with God, I am reconciled, and I pray. Amen.
