MAY 21

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

Psalm 32:1

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”

Psalm 86:5

“For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.”

Matthew 5:44

“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,”

Matthew 6:15

“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

Mark 2:7

“Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Mark 2:9

“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?”

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We will be reading from a book by Erwin Lutzer, President of Moody Bible Institute.  It’s a short book about Christ’s sacrifice for us.  It’s called simply, “For Us.”

Acts 3:11-26

“Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Was this prayer answered?  We must realize this was not a blanket prayer for everyone involved in Christ’s crucifixion; not everyone who participated in this crime was forgiven.  But Jesus foreknew that many of those who put Him to death would, indeed, later repent, and He prayed God would let His blood cover their sin.  God forgives those who ask.  Yes, the prayer was answered for those for whom it was intended.

You and I don’t know which of our enemies will repent.  But we’re called to pray for all who hurt us, even those who don’t ask for our forgiveness.  Maybe our prayers will be part of their salvation story.  In the meantime, we free ourselves from the pain of their attacks by surrendering the matter to God.  Remember, forgiveness doesn’t have to mean reconciliation.  Sometimes it just means letting go.

What old emotional injury are you carrying today from someone who hurt you and never asked forgiveness?   Will you give that pain to God and let Him heal the wound?  Jesus did not die bitter, and neither should we.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

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