Lord's Day Devotion - I Forgive You

 "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" Ephesians 4:32 ESV.

It can be observed that this verse of Scripture commands us to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving.  This is not optional nor to only select certain people to treat this way.  These actions are for "one another."  The impetus for the individual to obey is that God in Christ forgave them.

Of course, the parable of the two servants owing a sum of money is a good example.  One owed the master, the other was an underservant owing the servant who owed the master.  This servant was such a bully.  He was an ungrateful, unmerciful man.

Jesus taught this parable in response to Peter's question of how many times did he have to forgive when his brother sins against him (see Matthew 18:21).

"77 times," was Jesus' reply.  Then he told that parable.

It is often those closest to us that we find hardest to forgive.  We have expectations and assumptions that these friends or family members wouldn't do such and such to us.  But they did.  It's a betrayal of trust and friendship or even of marital trust.  How could that person treat you like that!!!?

"Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant" 

Jesus asked in His parable.

That could work both ways, of course.  And so we grind and grit our teeth and seethe in the stew of simmering anger and hurt.  That is, until the still small voice whispers in our ear and conscience,

" ... forgive, as God in Christ forgave you."

Emotions twist and turn until we submit to the One who died for us, and we exclaim, "Father forgive, but how can I?!  Didn't you see and hear what he said and did!?"

Again, we hear,

"...as God in Christ forgave you."

It's hard but then we think again of all the agony Jesus went through, suffering and dying on that cruel 'tree' and cross. Costly grace He exuded to erase my sin and buy my pardon.  Debt, paid in full.  And we say,

"Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You for this salvation.  God has now forgiven me."

And we choke a bit and stumble over our own, "OK, I forgive you" to that person who has injured me.  "I forgive you only because God in Christ forgave me."

Like we have been forced and out of guilty feelings.  It sounds, not quite "fully baked" forgiveness.  There is still a holding back.  May the Lord, forgive us again, teach us how to love and forgive, until we can utter a clean, clear, and sincere,

"I forgive you."

And we remember then Jesus' kindness, tenderheartedness and His forgiveness and what's more, all He has done for us and we give our thanks.  And on Lord's Day we remember Him through the breaking and partaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup.  We remember His suffering and sorrow.  He did all this, for me.

Lord Jesus, I do remember the travail of Your soul, the torture of Your body; the betrayal by Judas Iscariot and Peter's denial that he even knew You.  All of that!  I remember.

Yet You chose to forgive.  Then You chose to forget our sins and remember them no more because You died for them, taking our punishment for them and clearing our debt.  You offer forgiveness.

  "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:30 ESV).

Even those perpetrators of Your death, You would forgive!

And we hang our heads and finally with a full heart give our thanks to You by being able to say a genuine "I forgive you" to those who have wronged us.

Thank You, Jesus.  

Amen.

                                                     ~  ERC  July 2026  ~

Based on Ephesians 4:32 ESV.

Sing, Let Your Mercy Flow, along with Risen Tunes.