Easter is my favourite time of the year, it's a moment to pause and appreciate the generosity of Father God. It's a time to marvel that God would give his only begotten son for the salvation of the world. God is love, and he demonstrated his love for us in that whilst were were still sinners Jesus Christ died for us. God did not wait until we had cleansed ourselves. He who was without sin died in place of all those who were in glad rebellion against his Father. For the joy set before him Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). The joy was the salvation of many who will trust and believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus' death and resurrection conquered death, sin and Satan. Jesus' resurrection reconciled us to God and to each other. God now looks at all those who believe in Jesus and says because of Jesus you are righteous, you are clean, you are blameless and you are forgiven!
FORGIVEN! It reminds of a line that we so easy recite in the Lord's prayer "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us..." This is conditional, for God to forgive you then you have to forgive those who have sinned against you. It's so much easier said than done. We have every reason to justify why someone is not deserving of the forgiveness. We feel justified in holding onto the grudge and we have an army of people who would understand if we never forgive. Yet, God asks us to forgive those who have wronged us. And because he knows that humans are fallible, he anticipates that you might have to forgive the same person seventy seven times (Matthew 18:22). Mahatma Gandhi said, the weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. During this Easter period may we be overcome by the love that God has extended to us and use this as fuel to forgive those who have sinned against us.
The story of Jesus' death and resurrection - The tomb is empty!
May God bless you
Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong... Indeed!
ReplyDeleteHe left the comfort of heaven and endured the shameful death on the cross; just for me!
ReplyDeleteThe fallen angels wondered in amazement at why Jesus volunteered to die in my place and yet HE didn't rescue them even though they were once heavenly beings, unlike me.
HE forgave me... That is why, no matter how painful it is, I have learned to plead with my heart to forgive. By the help of the Holy Spirit, I do get there!
AMEN! Forgiving someone sets you free. It frees you from their baggage.
DeleteHe left the comfort of heaven and endured the shameful death on the cross; just for me!
ReplyDeleteThe fallen angels wondered in amazement at why Jesus volunteered to die in my place and yet HE didn't rescue them even though they were once heavenly beings, unlike me.
HE forgave me... That is why, no matter how painful it is, I have learned to plead with my heart to forgive. By the help of the Holy Spirit, I do get there!