DEVOTIONS

Monday, July 11 – “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.” (Luke 11:4) We pray this verse every single Sunday.  But do we really pay attention to what we are praying?  We are praying for our sins to be forgiven.  But we are also praying for us to forgive those who sin against us.  Forgiveness from God comes first.  Out of that forgiveness we find the possibility to forgive others.  Do you struggle to forgive others?  Have you truly accepted the forgiveness that God has given you, through Jesus?

Tuesday, July 12 – “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” (Proverbs 19:11) Wisdom means to use the knowledge that you have.  If you are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus, then you know that your sins are forgiven.  If you know that your sins are forgiven, then you are wise if you turn around and forgive others for their sins against you.  A fool will, conversely, turn around and condemn anyone and everyone who sins against them.  Are you wise or are you a fool?

Wednesday, July 13 – “But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.” (Psalm 130:4) How can you serve God if all you do all day is worry whether or not you have been good enough?  When God is with you, through faith in Jesus, you are free.  Free from guilt, shame and the power of sin.  You can, with confidence, declare that you are right with God.  Not because of who you are.  But because of who Jesus is in you.  With this confidence you can go out and live your life, in reverence and service.

Thursday, July 14 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32) You live your life in response.  You don’t live your life in order to earn.  You are saved by grace and you live your life in response to this gift.  You aren’t kind and compassionate to others so that you can earn God’s love.  You don’t forgive others so that you can merit God’s forgiveness.  God has been kind and compassionate to you.  In response, you are kind and compassionate to others.  God has forgiven you.  In response, you extend forgiveness to others. 

Friday, July 15 – “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12) If I asked ten people to describe you, what would they say?  As a follower of Jesus, you are “holy and dearly loved” by God.  Since this is who you are, in response, you get to clothe yourselves with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”  Does this sound like what those ten people would say about you? 

Saturday, July 16 – “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26) Faith in Jesus is all about possibility.  Not the possibility of your own intellect or strength.  But the possibility of God.  For “with God all things are possible.”  It’s this possibility that you are invited to embrace this weekend.  What are you facing in your life?  “With God all things are possible.”  What mountain do you have to climb?  What tough conversation do you have to have?  What decision do you need to make?  “With God all things are possible.”  Do you believe it?