Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour
Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of the Lutheran Hour - "Cultivating
Forgiveness" - Friday, 29 November 2013
(Jesus said) "And whenever you stand
praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also
who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."(Mark 11:25)
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ
reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the
power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our
International Ministry Centers to write our Friday devotions. We pray that the
Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and
yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
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Because of failed relationships which had
blighted her life, Alicia was a girl who sought revenge by hurting others.
That had been the makeup of Alicia. But
she was different the day she came to our office after hearing one of our
Lutheran Hour radio programs: a broadcast in which we had spoken about God's
forgiveness. By the time we met her, Alicia had felt the impact of the Word of
God and responded to the Holy Spirit's call to faith.
Now she was asking God's forgiveness for
all the damage she had caused to others.
We were glad to talk to Alicia -- as
we've talked to so many others -- about the change which happens inside a
person when they are redeemed by the Savior. We tell them how, gladly, they can
try to leave behind bad attitudes from the past and walk the new path to which
the Lord has directed them. Forgiven because of Jesus' blood, they can be glad
to have this wonderful opportunity to leave the past behind and live a new life
in the Lord.
And what does that mean? It means every
day they can rejoice in the opportunity of coming to God, acknowledging their
sins, and being grateful they are forgiven through Jesus Christ. They give
thanks that since Jesus has saved them, they can confess the mistakes they have
made and realize they are forgiven through Jesus Christ.
But there is more to the Christian life than
being forgiven by the Lord.
Believers know God has given them the
power to forgive those who have sinned against them. Indeed the Lord wants to
have us reconciled with our loved ones and others around us because we wish to
share His forgiveness and His love. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to
forgive as we have been forgiven.
To receive forgiveness and share it
relieves us of past burdens and shares God's reconciliation with others. Those
who practice this aspect of the faith soon find it heals many emotional and
spiritual wounds. Forgiven and forgiving we are enabled to approach the future
with hope, optimism, courage and a renewed faith.
I am pleased to report that Alicia
understood all this.
Today, like so many other Christians, she
remembers that God is the Author of forgiveness and that through Him God's
people are given inner peace and live in a loving way with all whom they know.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, remind me always
that Your love and forgiveness through Jesus is bigger than my sins. Grant me
the power through Your grace and forgiveness to share it with others. In the
Savior's Name I ask it Amen.
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Biography of Author: Venezuela's
Alexander Jesus Perez Leon has an accounting degree and has taken religious
courses at Juan de Frias Theological Institute. He currently works as an
insurance executive at Sanitas Insurance Venezuela. He also is involved with
the Association for the Assistance of the Helpless Child. We are thankful he
has served as coordinator and director of the Lutheran Hour office in Carabobo
and assistant to the director of the Venezuelan office in Caracas. In this
country of some 30 million people, LHM-Venezuela, known in-country as Cristo
Para Todas Las Naciones, uses Equipping the Saints (ETS), Bible Correspondence
Courses (BCC), Christian literature, e-mail and text messages, and radio
programs like A Moment with God and Perspectives to address everyday challenges
Venezuelans face.
To learn more about our International
Ministries, click here or visit www.lhmint.org.
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In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour®
Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Center Dr.
St. Louis, MO 63141
1-800-876-9880
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