Saint In the Mirror
Tell the truth, sometimes we just want to hold onto a little piece of unforgiveness just in case the perpetrator messes up again. Then we can say, “I knew it! You’re not worthy of my forgiveness.” Calvary’s Cross says otherwise. This week our Devotional Team aims to help us all see just how integral “Repentance from Sin and Unforgiveness” is to the believer.
SCRIPTURE: “And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” Matthew 6:12, 14 NASB
Years ago I heard someone say that whatever you want to receive from others, make it your aim to be a dispenser of the same. That can be said of friendship, financial benevolence, and especially forgiveness. Our Lord certainly sees it that way; such precepts are laid out repeatedly in His word. He who would have friends must show himself to be friendly [Proverbs 18:24]. Give and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over… [Luke 6:38]. And let’s not forget that wonderful and widely applicable instruction found in Colossians 3:12b—that we’re to persist in “… bearing with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”
Notwithstanding these scriptural commands, we all know that it’s more typically true that we expect others to shower these beautiful aspects of Christ-following upon us, even as we fail to consistently dispense them to others; and I’m not even talking about our dealings with folks in a cold-hearted world of Christ-rejectors or spiritually dead folk, but our casual (and at times conscious) mistreatment of our brothers and sisters in Christ!! We can and MUST do a “180-degree turn” and REPENT!
Withholding forgiveness is a glaring and grievous act of disobedience and disloyalty to our Lord and Savior. To withhold forgiveness is outright REBELLION against our Lord and Redeemer. Saints, let us earnestly repent of being like that soul mentioned in James 1:23, 24, who hears God’s Word, but is NOT a doer, but rather a person who sees himself in a MIRROR [i.e., God’s Word] and immediately afterward FORGETS what kind of person he was.
PRAYER: Dear Abba, remind us daily that the pathway to Your greatest blessings is to abide (remain) in our commitment to be not forgetful hearers, but DOERS of Your word! Thank You, Lord; AMEN!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Notwithstanding these scriptural commands, we all know that it’s more typically true that we expect others to shower these beautiful aspects of Christ-following upon us, even as we fail to consistently dispense them to others; and I’m not even talking about our dealings with folks in a cold-hearted world of Christ-rejectors or spiritually dead folk, but our casual (and at times conscious) mistreatment of our brothers and sisters in Christ!! We can and MUST do a “180-degree turn” and REPENT!
Withholding forgiveness is a glaring and grievous act of disobedience and disloyalty to our Lord and Savior. To withhold forgiveness is outright REBELLION against our Lord and Redeemer. Saints, let us earnestly repent of being like that soul mentioned in James 1:23, 24, who hears God’s Word, but is NOT a doer, but rather a person who sees himself in a MIRROR [i.e., God’s Word] and immediately afterward FORGETS what kind of person he was.
PRAYER: Dear Abba, remind us daily that the pathway to Your greatest blessings is to abide (remain) in our commitment to be not forgetful hearers, but DOERS of Your word! Thank You, Lord; AMEN!
By Sis. Denise Diggs
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
3 Comments
Amen!
Amen and amen.
Amen! Such a strengthened Devotional!