5 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Colossians 3:12-13 (CSB): “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
The verses I have chosen for today are loaded with truth that could warm virtually any heart on a frigid winter’s morning! If we are trusting in Jesus to make us right in God’s eyes, then we are recipients of God’s wonderful grace.
The first characteristic of God’s grace mentioned is that we are “God’s chosen ones.” That tells us that it wasn’t originally our idea to pursue a relationship with God. We did not chase after Him until He finally responded positively and chose us for Himself. Instead, it was His idea. He chose us, and we responded to Him.
Next, we read that we are “holy and dearly loved.” That means that He has called us to be set apart for Him, and it’s because He loves us so much. A similar incident occurred on May 10, 1997. Because of the deep love that Kim and I had for each other, we stood before our pastor, Hershael York, as he led us in the recitation of vows and then pronounced us “man and wife.” Because of our love for each other, we resolved on that day to be faithful to each other, never to pursue anyone else. As Christians, God loves us, has called us to love Him, and He has set us apart for Himself, never to pursue anything else but Him. We are “holy (set apart) and dearly loved.”
As we look back at Colossians 3, we realize that since we have entered into a relationship with God that meets our souls’ deepest longings for love, safety, purpose, and value, we are to treat others in ways that create a community that is safe, loving, and provides purpose and value to those who are part of it.
Colossians 3:12-13 (CSB): “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
Lest we think we can do all of this in our own strength, the Lord tacked on verse 13. We are told to forgive others. But we aren’t merely given that command, as simple as it may initially appear. We are also given the standard. We are told to forgive others “just as the Lord has forgiven you.”
Goodness! How is that even possible?!
When I read my Bible, I realize that when the Lord forgives me, He throws my sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). He tells me that He “will never again remember (my) sins and (my) lawless acts” (Hebrews 10:17). He tells me me that He has freed me from guilt and shame when He says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
When the Lord forgives us, it’s as if He goes to a crime scene after all the detective and forensic work has been done and scrubs it clean. He not only forgives, but He also cleans us up (1 John 1:9) so that His perfect, piercing eyes can no longer see even a trace of our sin. We are completely forgiven and clean.
Me: “Lord, I know that I have asked forgiveness for that harsh word I said yesterday. But I still feel guilty about it.”
Lord: “Matt, I’m sorry, but I have no clue what sin you are talking about. I distinctly remember forgiving and cleansing you from it yesterday, so I refuse to ever recall it to mind again. I placed it on my Son as He hung on the cross, so I saw Him as doing it, and I punished Him for it. Please receive the forgiveness and cleansing I offered you yesterday when you confessed it, and let’s move on.”
And that’s how we are to strive, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to forgive others. In recent history, I can think of no more powerful way that this was illustrated to a watching world than when Erika Kirk forgave her husband’s assassin. Only God can enable someone to obey Colossians 3:13 from the heart.
But one final thought. How is God able to forgive us like He does? He is not only a God of love, but He is also a God who loves justice (Psalm 33:5; Isaiah 61:8). Simply put, our sins had to be punished. But He loves us so much (John 3:16) that He sent His own Son, Jesus, to pay the sin debt of anyone and everyone who will trust in Him to make them right in the Father’s eyes.
The cross demonstrates how seriously God takes sin. But the cross also demonstrates how much God loves us.
So, today, rest in God’s love for you. Rest in the fact that He has chosen you (if you are saved or will trust in Jesus right now to save you). Rest in the fact that God has called you away from the world to be His own.
As you reflect on what God has done for you, then out of the overflow of a full heart, treat others in ways that would reflect and honor what God has done and is doing for you.
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you be receptive to the unimaginable love that He has for you.
- Ask God to help you relate to others in a way that honors and reflects how He relates to you.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into the importance of forgiving others, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“If I do not forgive others, does that mean my sins are not forgiven?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)
Matt’s Musings 