SATURDAY JUNE 7
“Forgiveness…in
accordance with the riches of…grace.” Eph 1:7 NIV
LAVISH
GRACE
Peter asked, “How many times should I forgive
someone who does…wrong to me? Is seven times enough?” Jesus answered: ‘Not…seven…but
seventy-seven times!’” (Mt 18:21-22 CEV). But we shouldn’t stop there. If God
gave each of us only seventy seven “forgiveness passes,” we’d be in trouble!
You can’t bankrupt your “forgiveness account” with God. But when you refuse to
forgive others, you’re overlooking the fact that “You might be needing forgiveness
before the day’s out” (Gal 6:1 TM). Jesus said, “Forgive—only then will your
heavenly father…wipe your slate clean” (Mk 11:25 TM). Whether it’s seven,
seventy-seven, or seven thousand times, you always reap what you sow (See Gal
6:7). We’re all human, and when somebody hurts us we want justice. But God
wants you to forgive the wrongdoer before he asks or shows any sign of remorse.
Does that mean he will escape the consequences of his actions? No, it just
means you’re not responsible for making it happen, God is. Harboring grudges is
spiritually, emotionally, and physically draining; forgiveness energizes and
frees you to move on. Remember, you’ve been forgiven “in accordance with the
riches of…grace…he lavished on us.” But it comes with the requirement that you
forgive others! When you think about the debt God forgave you, anything anyone
could ever do to you pales in comparison, right? “His love has no limits, His
grace has no measure, His power no boundary known to men; For out of his
infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again” (Annie Johnson
Flint, 1866-1932). Now that’s lavish grace!
Taken
from the Word for You Today Devotional
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