TOPIC: FORGIVENESS (PART 1)
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 6-7; Luke 23:27-38
Memory verse: “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. and they parted his raiment, and cast lots” Luke 23:34 (KJV)
Have you ever wondered why God sent His Son, Jesus to come to this world and die for the sins of man? Have you ever thought of how important you are to God? David was thinking the same way when he said in Psalm 8:4 (KJV), “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him?” There is something about you that only a revelation from God can give you the true picture of how God sees you. He loves you so much.
The kind of love Jesus and His Father showed toward humanity is beyond comprehension. The bible tells us, While we were yet sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Looking at the happenings before His death on the cross, you could sees how determined Jesus was to save man and fulfill His Father’s will for man. Even when He had the chance to give up the whole transaction in the garden of Gethsemane, He says to the Father, “If thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 (KJV).
From the religious leaders who are afraid of losing their importance before men to the Roman rulers who carried out the execution, Jesus prayed for all of them even in the midst of His ordeal till he gave up His breath. He asked the Father to forgive them all. This should serve as a lesson to all men. Remember, He told the Jews earlier in John 5:19 (KJV), “The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doth, these also doth the son likewise.”
One of the reasons why we spread the gospel of the Kingdom is to bring people up to speed with the knowledge of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, that they both have forgiven man of his sins long ago. Therefore, lets learn from this and and make forgiveness a lifestyle. A lifestyle of unforgiveness is dangerous as we shall soon see.
Prayer: Father, help me to make forgiveness a lifestyle in Jesus name.
Bro. Worthmore Aghanenu