Daily Devotional: Wednesday, Dec 9
Speaker:Ben Sigman
Theme: Healing Family Rifts
Weekend Music links on iTunes: The Time Has Comeby Hillsong United ; Angels We Have Heard on High arranged by Chris Tomlin; Cannonsby Phil Wickham; From the Inside Outby Hillsong United.
Read: Deuteronomy 6:5; Acts 13:22; Mark 9:14-27
Think: "If you're not willing to forgive but willing to be willing God can work with that." This statement from Pastor Ben's series on Christmas is Forgiving gives us a next right step in the process of forgiving if we can't yet fully forgive.
The Bible refers to our hearts in many places. My understanding is that it's different from our soul (mind, will and emotions). In fact Deuteronomy 6:5 helps us see the distinction, it says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
Throughout scripture we read the heart described with terms like unregenerate, hardened, changed, upright, clean... But my favorite reference to the heart is in regard to King David. Acts 13:22 says, "After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart. ‘"
We know that David didn't live a perfect, sin-free life, but we're told he was a man after God's own heart. He had a God-attitude. Maybe a good analogy is the attitude indicator in an aircraft. This instrument is used to inform the pilot of the orientation of the aircraft relative to earth. David's heart was oriented toward God - his God attitude was right on track. If we can't bring ourselves to actually forgive at this moment, we can orient ourselves toward God and acknowledge His position on forgiveness and He can help us take the next step.
I like the man in Mark 9:14-27 who brings his spirit possessed son to Jesus and says, "But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." His belief isn't all the way there, (notice the phrase IF you can do anything) but his attitude is right - bring it to the Lord!
Do: When you're having problems forgiving, bring it to the Lord. Even if it's an "IF you can help me" step, He will work with it as He did with the father from the Gospel of Mark. God delivered his son from the evil spirit and set him free!
Pray: Father, I believe you can help me forgive. Help me overcome my unbelief and set me free. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
