Topic: FORGIVE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF CHRIST [Church of God Mission International] Above Only Daily Devotional 4 February 2022
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ABOVE ONLY DAILY DEVOTIONAL
BY: ARCHBISHOP M. E. BENSON IDAHOSA
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 4TH, 2022
FORGIVE PEOPLE BECAUSE OF CHRIST
Philemon 1:10, 18-20 (GNB)
So I make a request to you on behalf of Onesimus, who is my own son in Christ; for while in prison I have become his spiritual father. *If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to my account. Here, I will write this with my own hand: I, Paul, will pay you back. (I should not have to remind you, of course, that you owe your very self to me.) So, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake; as a brother in Christ, cheer me up!
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Jesus wants us to forgive people for His sake the same way Apostle Paul was asking Philemon to forgive Onesimus because of him. We should learn to forgive especially when they are fellow believers. There will be times that you will be so hurt and you will have no logical reason to forgive someone or a group of people. In those times, remember that because of Christ, you can forgive them. Also, remember all the suffering and pain that Christ went through for you, so that you will be forgiven all your sins. Yes, one reason it will hurt is because you don’t deserve what they did to you. Jesus also did not deserve what was done to Him on the Cross, but he took it anyway.
When you are forgiving people because of Christ, you are reflecting the love of Christ to the world and your heart will also be healed. The blood of Jesus can take away that offence and cleanse your heart from the pain of that hurt. Choose to view it as Christ viewed what was done to Him on the Cross; that they know not what they do. And know that just like it happened to Jesus, God is going to divinely turn around what has happened to you for your good and lifting. As Apostle Paul promised Philemon that he would repay him whatever Onesimus owed him, remember that whenever you choose to show mercy because of Christ, God Himself will compensate and repay you in ways beyond the mercy you are extending to others. In Matthew 5:7 Jesus said, blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. In Colossians 3:13 (NIV) the Bible urges us to, “bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” As Jesus forgave us even before we offended Him, let us do the same unto others also. Remember that you also need God to grant people you may have hurt the grace to forgive you also.
Prayer Focus:
Ask God to help you love and forgive others because of Christ. Ask Him to heal your heart and help you reflect Christ’s love always.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR READING PLAN
Exo 30-32
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