forgiveness

Forgive

Lord, you must be so disappointed in us. You sacrificed for us; you died for us. Yet while you hung on the cross in pain, you asked the Father to forgive us. And yet we hold grudges, and yet we hate. Once again, Lord, forgive us. Teach us to follow your humble, loving, sacrificial example.Continue reading “Forgive”

Mercy and Forgiveness

Mercy and forgiveness must be free and unmerited to the wrongdoer. If the wrongdoer has to do something to merit it, then it isn’t mercy, but forgiveness always comes at a cost to the one granting the forgiveness.— Tim Keller

Dropping the Stones

She was caught in the act of adultery and dragged into the temple courts. Head down, hands trembling, she avoided the eyes of the angry men surrounding her. They couldn’t wait to pass judgment on her. Their faces turned hard as the stones they longed to throw. After all, that was God’s law. But theContinue reading “Dropping the Stones”

A Deeper Look

Do you remember how the Pharisees tested Jesus by asking Him which was the greatest commandment in the law? You know, the one where He passed the test with this reply: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is likeContinue reading “A Deeper Look”

Vacuuming the Carpet

As I vacuum the carpet, the motion and humming of the machine soothes me. Hungrily, it picks up dirt and debris from the floor. The bits of torn paper and the little clumps of dirt are whisked away by its wind. With nothing on my mind but the cleaning, I ponder the hidden dirt theContinue reading “Vacuuming the Carpet”

If My People

Last night I woke up around 4:30. I spent some time in prayer before curling up, ready to fall back asleep. But God had other plans. He kept bringing II Chronicles 7:14 to my mind. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turnContinue reading “If My People”

“Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” Mark Twain