Daily Devotional: Friday, Dec 18

Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Receiving Forgiveness

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Salvation is Here by Hillsong United; Joy to the World arranged by Chris Tomlin; Let Us Adore by Hillsong; Oh Come All Ye Faithful arranged by Chris Tomlin.

Read:  Psalm 103:12; Hebrews 10:17; 1 Corinthians 13:5

Think: You've heard the saying, "I can forgive but I can never forget." I wonder about those who say that... have they really forgiven? But then I wonder if you really can forget even when you've forgiven. I know God can actually forgive and forget our sins because in Hebrews 10:17 God says, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Unfortunately I think we have trouble doing that. It seems to me forgiving and forgetting is a choice. You can choose to forgive someone or not, it's up to you. God never says, "Forgive them if you feel like it." That's why 1 Corinthians 13:5 tells us, "(Love) does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered".

You've heard people say, "He/She doesn't deserve to be forgiven." Of course they don't, none of us do. But think of forgiveness as a gift... like that Christmas present under the tree. It is a gift of mercy that you offer to someone who has hurt you. The gift is given to the other person but it remains between you and God. There are times the other person may never know about it but when you forgive, God knows and you know, and that's what really matters.

How do I know when I have truly forgiven?

• When it is no longer at the forefront of your mind
• When talking about it bores you
• When you don't see the need to take revenge on that person
• When you can interact with them normally
• When the details of the situation are slipping from your mind

Do: This Christmas follow God's lead and be the person who extends forgiveness (and forgetfulness) to others for their offending actions.

Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to allow forgiveness to overwhelm my life. Allow me to truly extend forgiveness just as you have forgiven me so many times. God, you know the situations and people that I need to forgive and forget - show me how to release it and remove it ‘as far as the east is from the west'. Amen. 

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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