The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Saint Paul Minnesota United States for Wednesday, 23 May 2018 "Power of Forgiveness" by John W. Garcia M. (Cali, Colombia) Genesis 18:23-33
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV))
Within a month of my starting to attend church, a friend invited me to participate in a church-sponsored event called “Encounter with Christ.” At the event, today’s reading and quoted verse had a profound impact on me.
After the event, I called my son’s mother. Since our separation we had not been able to hold a civil conversation for more than five minutes. But after the lessons I learned at the church event, everything changed. I called her and asked for her forgiveness for all of my deplorable behavior that I could recall and for all the things I could not recall as well. We spoke for 45 minutes. Since that day, I have felt great relief from a burden that I had not realized was weighing so heavily on me: the absence of forgiveness. Today, my son’s mother and I share a beautiful relationship — one that is only possible through Christ when we make him our priority in all things.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Creator God, thank you for teaching us about forgiveness, love, mercy, and generosity. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Genesis 18:23 Avraham approached and said, “Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Maybe there are fifty righteous people in the city; will you actually sweep the place away, and not forgive it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are there? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn’t the judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 Adonai said, “If I find in S’dom fifty who are righteous, then I will forgive the whole place for their sake.”
27 Avraham answered, “Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. 28 What if there are five less than fifty righteous?” He said, “I won’t destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to him yet again: “What if forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the forty I won’t do it.”
30 He said, “I hope Adonai won’t be angry if I speak. What if thirty are found there?” He said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there.”
31 He said, “Here now, I have taken it upon myself to speak toAdonai. What if twenty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the twenty I won’t destroy it.”
32 He said, “I hope Adonai won’t be angry if I speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the ten I won’t destroy it.” 33 Adonai went on his way as soon as he had finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Forgiveness can transform my relationship with God and others.
PRAYER FOCUS: Conflict resolution counselors
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21-22 (NIV))
Within a month of my starting to attend church, a friend invited me to participate in a church-sponsored event called “Encounter with Christ.” At the event, today’s reading and quoted verse had a profound impact on me.
After the event, I called my son’s mother. Since our separation we had not been able to hold a civil conversation for more than five minutes. But after the lessons I learned at the church event, everything changed. I called her and asked for her forgiveness for all of my deplorable behavior that I could recall and for all the things I could not recall as well. We spoke for 45 minutes. Since that day, I have felt great relief from a burden that I had not realized was weighing so heavily on me: the absence of forgiveness. Today, my son’s mother and I share a beautiful relationship — one that is only possible through Christ when we make him our priority in all things.
TODAY'S PRAYER: Creator God, thank you for teaching us about forgiveness, love, mercy, and generosity. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
TODAY'S READING: Genesis 18:23 Avraham approached and said, “Will you actually sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Maybe there are fifty righteous people in the city; will you actually sweep the place away, and not forgive it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are there? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing — to kill the righteous along with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike! Far be it from you! Shouldn’t the judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 Adonai said, “If I find in S’dom fifty who are righteous, then I will forgive the whole place for their sake.”
27 Avraham answered, “Here now, I, who am but dust and ashes, have taken it upon myself to speak to Adonai. 28 What if there are five less than fifty righteous?” He said, “I won’t destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 He spoke to him yet again: “What if forty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the forty I won’t do it.”
30 He said, “I hope Adonai won’t be angry if I speak. What if thirty are found there?” He said, “I won’t do it if I find thirty there.”
31 He said, “Here now, I have taken it upon myself to speak toAdonai. What if twenty are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the twenty I won’t destroy it.”
32 He said, “I hope Adonai won’t be angry if I speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “For the sake of the ten I won’t destroy it.” 33 Adonai went on his way as soon as he had finished speaking to Avraham, and Avraham returned to his place. (Complete Jewish Bible).
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Forgiveness can transform my relationship with God and others.
PRAYER FOCUS: Conflict resolution counselors
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