Forgiveness. An Act of Love. The Secret of True Peace.
Loving forgiveness opens our heart. Brings to us God’s peace.
Come to the Cross.
Hallelujah, everyone.
Everyone can come to the cross
It doesn’t matter what you’ve done
Everyone can come to the crossSinner, come today
Come today, at the cross there is room
Blessed thought for everyone
For everyone can come to the cross. (Michael W. Smith)
Introduction. The Lord’s Prayer commands us to forgive. This act of love brings us closer to Almighty God.
Scripture Readings: And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12, NIV)Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13, NIV)
Part and parcel of God’s gift of free will. Is our choice to forgive or not to forgive. Sometimes it feels that fully forgiving a loved one who has hurt me. Completely and sincerely forgiving. Seems at times a selfish and a self-centered act. An act of self-love it appears to be. But in reality, it is a gift of love from God, our Heavenly Father.
WHY??? Because, when you and I truly and genuinely forgive. Such a heavy load is lifted from our troubled heart. God’s miracle. Yes, God’s true and wondrous miracle of forgiveness. Has replaced bitterness and anger with the soothing and calming warmth of God’s peace. Our Heavenly Father‘s love overwhelms our heart once more.
Unloading all our burdens. At the foot of Christ’s cross. Through God’s miraculous gift of sincere and genuine forgiveness.
Scripture Readings: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matthew 18:21–22, NIV)
Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 10:17, NIV)
God’s Holy Word reinforces the concept forgiveness brings freedom as well as His peace.
Scripture Reading: Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19, NIV)
This Holy verse tells us it is God Almighty who is the Avenger. It is not up to you and me. For God can see into the heart of the loved one who has hurt us so terribly.
God, our Heavenly Father reads our heart. He sees the heavy load of bitterness and anger we are unnecessarily carrying. God, our Father asks us to unload and to forgive our loved one. Almighty God has granted to us the strengthening love needed. Especially in times when forgiveness is oh! so hard.
Our loved one has hurt us oh! so many times??? Perhaps has never said “sorry.” Forgiveness is at times truly difficult. Our Almighty God replenishes our love. Our heart overflows with His love. More than enough love have we.
A silent prayer of genuine forgiveness is ushered to Heaven. This burden God lifts from our troubled heart. Peace, God’s blessed peace pours softly though our soul. May God be praised. AMEN!
We leave our burden at the foot of Christ’s cross. Blessed love and peace are found at the cross of Jesus.
Scripture Reading: Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV)
At times we may find it oh! so hard. So very hard to lay down our heavy burden. For me. My heavy load is self-guilt. I can, with the support and strength from God, the Holy Spirit. Forgive those who hurt and harm me. But to forgive myself is at times not so easy.
At these times, with God’s Holy Word close by. I bow my head. I come to my Heavenly Father in silent and honest prayer. With open heart I confess my weakness. With humble and complete honesty. I speak my words of love and faith and absolute trust.
My prayer is spoken softly to my beloved Father. To the One who listens with utter patience. Again, my heart. My soul is filled with His soothing peace. God Almighty has forgiven me once more. My weakness is lifted from my troubled heart.
You have a weakness. We all do. This weakness needs to be spoken, in open and honest prayer, to your loving Father. Almighty God is patiently waiting. Come to Jesus with your heavy burden. Christ will lift your load from your troubled heart. Your soul will be filled with soothing and calming peace once more.
Scripture Reading: Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you,
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psalm 55:22, NKJV)For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13, NKJV)
Conclusion. You and I are so very loved by Jesus our Lord, our Savior, our God. Christ invites one and all to lay down our heavy load at the foot of His cross.
- As you and I lay down all our burdens at the foot of Christ’s cross.
- Our heart. Our soul finds God’s peace and eternal rest.
- For we are weak. But our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is strong. Strong enough to carry our burdens in our place.
- God’s Holy Word tells us that God Himself is the Avenger. We are not to take our anger out on those who hurt us.
- But with the strength and support of God the Holy Spirit.
- To forgive those who hurt us. So, we too are forgiven.
If God touched your heart,
please highlight your favorite passages
and leave me a message.
Thank you.
