“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matt 6:12 (NIV) Forgiveness is always the best decision. The Bible teaches us multiple facets of forgiveness. We have the privilege of receiving God’s forgiveness provided by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. This vertical forgiveness initiated by God allows us to be in a right relationship with God. We also have to come to the place of forgiving ourselves. Once we have received God’s forgiveness for our sins, we need to forgive ourselves so that we can walk in the freedom Christ provides. Another facet of forgiveness is that of extending forgiveness to others. In teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus included the discipline of extending forgiveness to others. Before asking God to forgive us of our sins, we are to have already forgiven those who have sinned against us. In order to have a proper vertical relationship with God, we must ensure a proper horizontal relationship with others. When it comes to extending forgiveness to others, you never have to pray and ask God if you should forgive someone. God expects us to extend instant forgiveness to others. To harbor bitterness or resentment breaks the heart of God. To fail to forgive others is to disobey God. Spend some time in prayer asking God to search your heart. As God reveals elements of unforgiveness in your life, deal with them before God in prayer. The more specific you are in prayer the more dynamic your experience in prayer will be. Forgiveness is always the best decision. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor (This devotional was originally posted in ’07 or ’08. I’m taking a break from writing for a season of personal renewal.) Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell
Category: Forgiveness
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Loving God’s Way
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 1 John 4:20 (NIV) Is it possible to love God and hate your brother? Can you have the love of God residing in you and at the same time have hatred toward others festering in your spirit? The duplicity seems to be incongruent to the life of love that God calls us to and that Jesus exemplified on the earth. Turn inward for a moment and examine your own current reality. Is there anyone you are fertilizing hatred toward? Do you have someone in your life to whom your love has extinguished and your hatred has ignited? Doing life in a fallen world is inundated with landmines of hatred. You will not lack opportunities to be wounded by hurtful words and by harmful people. People will let you down. You cannot love God and hate others at the same time without your relationship with God being affected. God’s love in you demands expression. When you choose to hate the people God created and the people Jesus died for, you restrict God’s love within you. God wants you to hate what He hates and love what He loves. God passionately hates sin, but passionately loves the sinner. Who is your brother? Who is your sister? How would God define your level of love? You will notice daily tests that reveal the authenticity of your love for others. Do you love God? Do you love others? Loving God and loving people is the entirety of the Bible for present day expression. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Sovereignty of God
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Gen 50:20 (NIV) The sixty-six books of the Bible provide us with a string of pearls demonstrating God’s redemptive activity. Long before we were born, God took the initiative to rescue us from our fallen condition. God factors in our poor choices and even the decisions others make that affect our lives. How refreshing to know that God has the final say. Your past, present, and future circumstances will never circumvent the mighty acts of God. Joseph had a life changing experience through the gateway of betrayal. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and tried to cover up their sin through deception. God elevated Joseph to Potipher’s house where he was later falsely accused by Potipher’s wife. Joseph went from the pit to the palace and then to prison. His life’s circumstances appeared to be most unfortunate. Yet, God knew right where Joseph was and what Joseph needed most. God was with Joseph and delivered him from prison and promoted him to second in command over Egypt in preparation for the upcoming famine. When Joseph’s path intersected that of his brothers, he demonstrated the life giving grace of God. Instead of having his brothers pay for their sin, Joseph forgave them and acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Have you had the ultimate life changing experience by placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross? Are you living out the reality of God’s transforming power? Have you experienced God’s forgiveness at the level of being able to forgive others in the same measure? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Forgiveness Forever
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Col 1:13-14 (NIV) If you are in Christ, then you are forgiven. Because of Christ’s atonement, you have been declared righteous. Your sins have been forgiven. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb 9:22 (NIV) Jesus shed His blood to pay the debt of your sin in full. Have you received God’s forgiveness? Confess your sins and God will forgive you of your sins (1 Jn 1:9). Jesus atoned for your sin by dying on the cross as the perfect and sinless sacrifice. His payment for your sin was sufficient to provide for your cleansing. Now walk in the reality of being in Christ. You are forgiven. You have a right standing before God because of your faith in the atoning work of Christ on the cross. You are forgiven because He was forsaken. Jesus bore the penalty for your sin. Jesus provided for the forgiveness of your sins. Heaven and eternal life define your future because of what Jesus did on your behalf. You are forgiven. Your sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Removal of Sin
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Heb 9:27-28 (NIV) In the Old Testament sacrificial system, the high priest would enter the holy of holies once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifices for the sins of his family and for all the people. One goat would be chosen to be sacrificed for the Lord and one goat would become the scapegoat (Lev. 16:10). The blood from the goat sacrificed as a sin offering would be sprinkled throughout the altar, sanctuary, and tent of meeting to remove defilements of the past year. The high priest would then place his hands on the head of the scapegoat and symbolically transfer the sins of the people to it. The scapegoat, also known as the goat of removal, would be led away from the people into the desert to picture the removal of sins. Jesus bore our sins on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus took our punishment for sin to satisfy God’s justice. In His mercy, Christ was sacrificed to remove our sins. Our sin debt has been paid in full and our salvation purchased through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Jesus became our scapegoat to take away our sins. Have you confessed your sins? Have your received God’s provision for the forgiveness of your sins? Spend some time thanking Jesus for the removal of your sins. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Dying to Live
“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (NIV) Jesus died so we could live. Our destiny was destruction. Our identity was diluted by sin. Our iniquity was placed upon Jesus (Is. 53:6). Jesus became sin for us so that we could be recipients of His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus bore our sins on the cross. The penalty for our sin was atoned for. Jesus paid our sin debt in full. It is finished (Jn. 19:30). “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2 (NIV) “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 (NIV) God took the initiative to communicate His unconditional love (Rom. 5:8). The cross is a visible and tangible demonstration of God’s redeeming love. Jesus died as the sinless atoning sacrifice for you. You can now die to sin and live for righteousness. His physical wounds spiritually heal you. When God sees you, He views you through the shed blood of Jesus. Your life is now hidden with Christ (Col. 3:3). God’s love is made complete in you. What if you started living in light of that reality? In Christ, you are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Forgiving Others
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32 (NIV) Extending forgiveness is intentional and perpetual. The words “just as” are powerful. In our key verse above, they mean to imitate and to emulate God’s forgiveness. We are to forgive each other just as in Christ God forgave us. Let’s consider going on a personal journey together in order to extend forgiveness to those who have wounded us. Ask God to bring to your mind someone you need to forgive. This may induce feelings of hurt, betrayal, or neglect. Now that you have someone in mind, take that person with you to the cross in prayer. In fact, you may even need to take them by the hand as you kneel with them at the foot of the cross. Remember that Jesus knows him or her better than you do. Jesus loves him or her more than you do. Also, Jesus paid the full price for his or her complete forgiveness. In prayer, say to the Lord, “Jesus, as You have graciously forgiven me, I now choose to forgive (insert his or her name).” Release that person from the prison of your unforgiveness. Genuinely extend forgiveness as in Christ God forgave you. Now entrust that person and your future to God. “‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins’” (Mark 11:25 NIV). Forgiveness is always the best decision. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Love and Forgiveness
“‘Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven–for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’” Luke 7:47 (NIV) What’s the relationship between forgiveness and love? God loves us so much that He sacrificed His only Son to atone for our sins (John 3:16). Jesus loves us so much that He was obedient to death, even death on a cross (Php 2:8). God demonstrated His love for us by taking the initiative to provide for the forgiveness of our sins (Rm 5:8). The level of forgiveness we have received from God affects the level of our love for others. A person who has experienced a large measure of compassion from others will in turn be more compassionate toward others. Jesus says that he who has been forgiven little loves little. The capacity to love others is fashioned by the level of forgiveness that we have received. Our desperation to be forgiven for our sins cascades us with an appreciation for the love God has lavished on us (I Jn 3:1). Is there anyone in your life whom you are having a difficult time loving? If so, begin to measure the forgiveness God has extended to you over your lifetime. Search the depths of your heart to recover the love God has faithfully demonstrated to you. Now choose to treat this person with the same level of love and forgiveness that you have graciously received from God. God is not asking you to do anything He has not already done for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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First Love (2)
“Remember the height from which you have fallen!” Rev 2:5a (NIV) Think back to the time when your relationship with Jesus exhibited true intimacy. Do you remember how sweet your daily time alone with Him was? Do you recall how you could not wait to read the Bible and to practice His presence? Do you remember how you would hunger and thirst for Jesus? Can you remember the height of your relationship with Jesus? So where are you now in your love relationship with Jesus? What is your current level of intimacy? If your commitment has become cluttered and your devotion to the Lord has become diluted, it is time to remember the height from which you have fallen. It is time to identify what has caused you to drift from your intimacy with Jesus. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” Mark 12:30 (NIV) “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:3-4 (NIV) God has provided the way for you to know Him personally and intimately through your saving relationship with Jesus. Now that you have a right relationship with God based on the atoning work of Jesus on the cross, you can draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“And the people said to Joshua, ‘We will serve the LORD our God and obey him.’” Josh 24:24 (NIV) Joshua exhorted the children of Israel to review their spiritual markers and to remove their idols. God had spoken through Joshua to bring the children of Israel into alignment with God’s best. God’s Word demands a response. They responded with a commitment to serve the Lord and to obey Him. As you review the past 365 days and anticipate the fresh start of the New Year, recapture your devotion to God. Don’t neglect your love relationship with God. Assess your devotion by looking at your time allocation. How much time do your carve out to read the Bible and to pray? How much time to do you spend in the spiritual disciplines of solitude and meditating on God’s Word? Do you live with a continual heightened awareness of God’s presence? “And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.” 1 John 2:28 (NIV) “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21 (NIV) You have a clean slate and a new beginning. What will you do with this New Year that God has given you? Will you serve the Lord and obey Him? Recapture your devotion to God. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“‘Now then,’ said Joshua, ‘throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.’” Josh 24:23 (NIV) After reviewing the spiritual markers God established for the children of Israel, Joshua called them to a moment of decision. Though they had come out of Egypt, it was now time to get Egypt out of them. Instead of influencing the cultures they conquered, the idolatry of the cultures infiltrated their lifestyles. Joshua exhorted the children of Israel to throw away the foreign gods that were among them. Idolatry comes in many forms. In our modern day technological advances, idolatry has become more easily accessible. You don’t have to go looking for sin, sin will come to you uninvited. As you prepare for the New Year, consider the value of removing your idols. What is an idol? An idol is anything that hinders your love relationship with God. In prayer, ask the Lord to search your heart and to reveal unconfessed sin in your life. “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Prov 28:13 (NIV) “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9 (NIV) Whatever you cover, God will uncover. Whatever you uncover, God will cover. You may want to spend some time looking back over every year of your life and writing down specific sins that you committed. This is a very personal and private process. After you write down the specific sins the Holy Spirit brings to your mind, confess them one-by-one and claim God’s forgiveness over each one. Destroy the sheet of paper that you use to write on or hit the “delete” button on your computer if you choose to type your list. Now walk in the freedom and forgiveness that God provides. Step into the New Year with the clarity of having removed your idols and confessed your sin. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Selective Memory
“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” Psalms 51:3 (NIV) How’s your memory? Can you remember your favorite vacation from your childhood? Can you remember learning how to swim or braving the high diving board for the first time? Do you remember the day you got your driver’s license? There’s power in memory. Memory can paralyze us with fear or mobilize us to persevere. Memory can blockade us like a brick wall or project us forward like a smooth water slide. It depends on how you utilize your memory. Satan uses memory to ridicule and demean us. He uses our memory to stifle our growth and to discredit our progress. Satan will bring to our minds the darkness of our past in order to cripple us. Yet, where Satan seeks to bring death and destruction, God can bring life and victory! God uses memory to remind us where we would be without His abundant grace and abiding peace. God allows us to remember our sin so that we will know where He brought us from. David acknowledged his sin. David affirmed the reality of sin always being before him in his memory. The question is not: Why do I remember my sin? The question is: What will I do in response to my ability to remember my sin? God wants us to remember that He rescued us from our sin so that we can live the abundant life. So, when Satan reminds you of your past just remind him of God’s provision of cleansing through the shed blood of His Son and our Savior, the Lord Jesus! Yes! Now that’s using memory in victory! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Unfailing Love
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.” Psalms 51:1 (NIV) David came to the point of desperation after committing the sins of adultery and murder. God used the prophet Nathan to confront David. Nathan used a parable to personalize David’s sin and then injected the piercing accusatory statement, “You are the man!” Have you heard these lyrics before? “It’s me! It’s me O Lord, standing in the need of prayer!” Both David and the prodigal son would have embraced this song. It is common throughout our earthly existence to go through seasons of personalization. In fact, if you want to become Christ-like and reach your God-given potential then you must be willing to acknowledge your sin personally. Personalization is looking into the mirror and confronting the reality of your own sin before you start judging others. The next step is to personalize God’s mercy, unfailing love, and compassion. Now let’s get personal. What specific area of your life is in desperate need of God’s touch? Identify the sin that entangles you and trace Satan’s strategy. How does the enemy attack you? When are you most susceptible to sin? Where are you when you are most vulnerable to the enemy’s flaming arrows? Is it when you travel? Is it when you are home alone? Is it when you are at work? Personalize Psalms 51:1 and pray it to God right now. Go ahead and pray this Scripture and see how God reveals his mercy, unfailing love, and compassion. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Recognition
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” Luke 15:21 (NIV) There is power in the recognition of your true disposition. You can shroud your persona with a facade that exudes perfection while your inner life embodies disarray. Disguising the reality of your inner self has the potential to delay being found out. However, the manifestation of your true disposition will appear at some point. God has a way of exposing our current reality. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ “He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’” Gen 3:8-10 (NIV) When God asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?” He was not perplexed that He had misplaced the crown of His creation. His question was not one of confusion related to an inability to find the couple that He created. His question was to heighten their recognition of their true disposition. God wanted Adam and Eve to recognize their current reality. After Isaiah encountered God’s holiness, he came face to face with his true disposition. A new standard of measurement became his conscious defining moment. Notice Isaiah’s response: “‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.’” Isaiah 6:5 (NIV) The prodigal son identified his true disposition and responded with the confession, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” Consider the holiness of God. Are you sensing a need for confession in light of His holiness and your true disposition? His purity exposes our sinfulness. He graciously offers forgiveness. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Praying In Faith
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:15 (NIV) Did you know that even godly people who have a vibrant faith in God can go through seasons of adversity? Often these difficult seasons can strengthen your faith and also cause you to become weary. As you fight the good fight of the faith (1 Tim. 6:12), you may experience spiritual exhaustion. Battle fatigue is a potential reality for the follower of Christ. James wrote to believers who had experienced severe persecution. Their faith had been tested and many of them had become emotionally depleted and spiritually exhausted. In some cases, their spiritual weakness caused them to be unable to call on God. We need each other. God does not expect you to live the Christian life on your own. God wants you to live out your faith as you connect with your spiritual family. God adopted you into His family. Allow other believers who are spiritually strong to come alongside to help you through seasons of spiritual lethargy and warfare. The spiritually strong will offer their prayer in faith, fully trusting that God is able to do what He says (Rom. 4:21), and you will be restored. God will raise you up from a condition of spiritual weakness to a state of spiritual strength and stability. Will you invite a spiritually mature follower of Christ to offer a prayer in faith on your behalf? Don’t walk alone through the seasons of adversity. Allow your spiritual family to intercede for you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32 (NIV) Extending forgiveness is intentional and perpetual. The words “just as” are powerful. In our key verse above, they mean to imitate and to emulate God’s forgiveness. We are to forgive each other just as in Christ God forgave us. Let’s consider going on a personal journey together in order to extend forgiveness to those who have wounded us. Ask God to bring to your mind someone you need to forgive. This may induce feelings of hurt, betrayal, or neglect. Now that you have someone in mind, take that person with you to the cross in prayer. In fact, you may even need to take them by the hand as you kneel with them at the foot of the cross. Remember that Jesus knows him or her better than you do. Jesus loves him or her more than you do. Also, Jesus paid the full price for his or her complete forgiveness. In prayer, say to the Lord, “Jesus, as You have graciously forgiven me, I now choose to forgive (insert his or her name).” Release that person from the prison of your unforgiveness. Genuinely extend forgiveness as in Christ God forgave you. Now entrust that person and your future to God. “‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.’” Mark 11:25 (NIV) Forgiveness is always the best decision. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Forgiveness (4)
“‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.’” Heb 8:12 (NIV) Forgiveness includes memory. God, in His omniscience, has the capacity to remember our sins no more. God is infinite and we are finite. We do not have the capacity to forgive and forget. Of course, it seems at times that we forget what we need to remember and remember what we need to forget. Even after we have extended forgiveness to someone who has wounded us, it can be difficult to forget the experience and the pain involved. You can be driving down the road or watching television or surfing the internet and an image will trigger the memory of being wounded by someone you have already forgiven. Forgiveness includes memory. Forgiveness is not the ability to remember no more, but rather being able to say, “Though I remember I choose to forgive.” Forgiveness is a choice. Harboring bitterness and resentment is a choice as well. I remember when I chose to visit my dad in jail to personally extend forgiveness to him for the hurt he had inflicted throughout my life due to his alcohol abuse. For years I had chosen to allow unforgiveness to poison my life and to infuse my life with toxic bitterness. The day I chose to forgive my dad was the day I realized that even though my dad was the one in prison, I had been imprisoned by my unforgiveness. Yes, I remember the hurt and the pain of my dad’s alcohol abuse, but in the swirling current of memory, I choose to forgive. God uses my memory to remind me of His abundant grace in my life. God is not asking me to do anything He has not already done for me. Though you remember, choose to forgive. That’s the beauty of walking in the light God gives you. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matt 6:14-15 (NIV) Forgiveness is immediate; trust takes time. Would it not be hypocritical to receive God’s forgiveness personally and then refuse to extend God’s forgiveness to others? We do not earn God’s forgiveness by forgiving others, but we demonstrate God’s forgiveness as we forgive others. Jesus expounded on this concept of receiving and extending forgiveness in Matthew 18:21-35. We are to forgive others instantly as a result of our being recipients of God’s instant forgiveness. You don’t have to ponder the decision to forgive those who have wounded you. Forgiving those who have hurt you does not validate their behavior or condone their actions, but rather honors God by mirroring His forgiveness towards you. The grace and mercy that God lavishes on you becomes a blessing that flows through you to those who have wounded you. By extending forgiveness, you are allowing the life of Christ to be evident in you and through you. Forgiveness is immediate; trust takes time. Just because you forgive someone does not mean that it is safe to trust that person. God is not asking you to extend forgiveness and then embrace a posture of vulnerability and susceptibility. You are to walk wisely. It takes time and multiple opportunities for a person to demonstrate trustworthiness. Just as you would not dare cross a bridge that is not deemed trustworthy, you would not trust an individual who has failed to be trustworthy. Extend forgiveness immediately and then pray for the person you have forgiven. Ask God to transform the one you have forgiven and to help that person become worthy of your trust. It is possible that you may never trust that person again. However, extending forgiveness is not optional in God’s economy. In my daily quiet time, I came across this question by Henry Blackaby that God is using in my life, “Would you want God to forgive you in the same way you are presently forgiving others?” Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Forgiveness (2)
“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Col 3:13 (NIV) Forgiveness is an event, followed by a process. Perhaps you have found yourself in situations where you have had a hard time forgiving those who have wounded you. Maybe you have been wounded by hurtful words directed to you. Maybe you have been wounded by someone who withheld affection or affirmation from you. Doing life with others involves risks. Relationships can be risky. In his letter to the church at Colosse, Paul identified the prominent role of forgiveness in the realm of relationships. We are commanded to patiently endure each other and to graciously forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. In order to have a right relationship with God, we must have a right relationship with others. Conversely, in order to have a right relationship with others, we must have a right relationship with God. The next time you begin thinking that someone doesn’t deserve your forgiveness; ask this question, “How much has the Lord forgiven me?” That question places a unique perspective on the concept of forgiveness. In the midst of our hurt, extending forgiveness may not be in line with our true feelings. We may be convinced that the one who wounded us does not deserve our forgiveness. That’s why Paul reminds us to graciously forgive as the Lord has graciously forgiven us. Jesus is not asking you to do anything He has not already done for you. Jesus is not asking you to do anything that He has not already empowered you to do. Follow His example and trust in His provision to enable you to extend forgiveness. Forgiveness is an event, followed by a process. Ask Jesus to give you the compassion and courage to extend forgiveness. Trust Jesus with the event and the process. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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Forgiveness (1)
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matt 6:12 (NIV) Forgiveness is always the best decision. The Bible teaches us multiple facets of forgiveness. We have the privilege of receiving God’s forgiveness provided by the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. This vertical forgiveness initiated by God allows us to be in a right relationship with God. We also have to come to the place of forgiving ourselves. Once we have received God’s forgiveness for our sins, we need to forgive ourselves so that we can walk in the freedom Christ provides. Another facet of forgiveness is that of extending forgiveness to others. In teaching His disciples how to pray, Jesus included the discipline of extending forgiveness to others. Before asking God to forgive us of our sins, we are to have already forgiven those who have sinned against us. In order to have a proper vertical relationship with God, we must ensure a proper horizontal relationship with others. When it comes to extending forgiveness to others, you never have to pray and ask God if you should forgive someone. God expects us to extend instant forgiveness to others. To harbor bitterness or resentment breaks the heart of God. To fail to forgive others is to disobey God. Spend some time in prayer asking God to search your heart. As God reveals elements of unforgiveness in your life, deal with them before God in prayer. The more specific you are in prayer the more dynamic your experience in prayer will be. Forgiveness is always the best decision. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Gen 50:20 (NIV) The sixty-six books of the Bible provide us with a string of pearls that demonstrates God’s redemptive activity. Long before we were born, God took the initiative to rescue us from our fallen condition. God factors in our poor choices and even the decisions others make that affect our lives. How refreshing to know that God has the final say. Your past, present, and future circumstances will never circumvent the mighty acts of God. Joseph had a life changing experience through the gateway of betrayal. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and tried to cover up their sin through deception. God elevated Joseph to Potipher’s house where he was later falsely accused by Potipher’s wife. Joseph went from the pit to the palace and then to prison. His life’s circumstances appeared to be most unfortunate. Yet, God knew right where Joseph was and what Joseph needed most. God was with Joseph and delivered him from prison to second in command over Egypt in preparation for the upcoming famine. When Joseph’s path intersected that of his brothers, he demonstrated the life giving grace of God. Instead of having them pay for their sin, Joseph forgave them and acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Have you had the ultimate life changing experience by placing your faith in the completed work of Jesus on the cross? Are you living out the reality of God’s transforming power? Have you experienced God’s forgiveness at the level of being able to forgive others in the same measure? Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
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If
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) God keeps His promises. If you confess your sins, God will forgive you and purify you. God’s forgiveness and cleansing is not based on your consistency, rather on His faithfulness. God is holy and demands holy living. At salvation, you received the imputed righteousness of Christ. You are a child of God and positioned in Christ as rightly related to God. However, daily cleansing from sin is needed. Living in a fallen world perpetuates the sin that can contaminate your life. “Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Cor 7:1 (NIV) “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8 (NIV) To confess your sin is to say the same thing about your sin that God says about it. Don’t neutralize your sin by overlooking it and ignoring it. Instead, confess your sin specifically and receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing. Walk in light of the cleansing you have received. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Executive Pastor
Do something great by releasing the past. “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14 (NIV) Don’t allow your past to prevent you from doing something great for God in the future. Everyone has a past. Everybody has pollution at some level in their past. We have made decisions we regret, said hurtful words we regret, and have had impure thoughts. We have caused pain in the lives of others and we have also been the recipient of pain from others. Living in a fallen world becomes evident by looking into the rearview mirror. Paul enjoyed the favor of God. While participating with God in the redemptive process, Paul also encountered the trauma of severe persecution. His rearview mirror included scenes of immense failures and tremendous successes. Paul understood the vital importance of releasing the past and embracing the future. Memory has power. Satan uses memory to immobilize us. God uses memory to remind us of the depth of His love. God wants to do something great through your life in spite of your past. God factored in your sin before you were even born. God made provision for your sin and your success by allowing Jesus to pay your sin debt in full. Find a private place of solitude. Take out a notepad and ask God to reveal un-confessed sin in your life. In the quietness of the moment, begin to write down what God reveals to you. Specifically confess each sin by agreeing with God that you have broken His heart and missed the mark. Now receive God’s cleansing for your sin and release the past. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Forgiveness
We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…” Eph 1:7 (NIV) All kinds of records are broken on a daily basis. Just when you thought a particular feat was impossible, someone attempts it and pulls it off. Years ago, I was watching the television show, “That’s Incredible.” On this particular episode, they featured a young man who proclaimed that he could eat a ten speed bicycle. They showed him at the very beginning of the hour looking over a tray filled with tiny dime-sized pieces of the entire bicycle. You would not believe it, but this young man ate the ten speed bicycle one bite at a time with intervals of drinking Coca-Cola within the hour. Now, “That’s Incredible!” Of all the amazing accomplishments being done on the earth, there is one that we just can’t pull off. We cannot have eternal life and heaven without God’s forgiveness. It doesn’t matter how hard we try. It doesn’t matter who wonderful we think we are. It doesn’t matter how good we have been today. We just cannot obtain heaven and eternal life without God’s forgiveness. It is impossible. The fact that God takes the initiative to bring us into a right relationship with Himself is incredible. To think that the Creator of the universe would value us to the degree that He would provide redemption and forgiveness of our sins through the shed blood of His Son, Jesus, is incredible. What is your greatest need? God’s forgiveness! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Forgiveness
Are you ready for the next “in Christ” reality? You can say it now… I am forgiven. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Eph 1:7-8 (NIV) If you are in Christ, then you are forgiven. Because of Christ’s atonement, you have been declared righteous. Your sins have been forgiven. Notice the key in the above verse is, “through his blood.” “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” Heb 9:22 (NIV) Jesus shed His blood to pay the debt of our sin in full. Claim your “in Christ” realities today: I am a Saint. I am blessed. I am chosen. I am adopted. I am accepted. I am redeemed. I am forgiven. Now walk in the reality of being in Christ. Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care
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Forgiveness
Your greatest need has been met. The greatest gift has been given. Eternity has been radically altered. Your destination is now secure! How can this be? “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” 1 Peter 2:23-25 (NIV) Jesus bore our sins in His body on the cross and uttered the life changing words, “It is finished!” That’s right! Our sin debt has been paid in full. Forgiveness has been provided. We can add nothing to what Jesus accomplished on the cross. We cannot work our way into salvation and we cannot do anything to earn what He purchased for us. However, we have the privilege of entrusting ourselves to Him just as He entrusted Himself to God’s plan. We have the glorious opportunity to receive the comprehensive forgiveness that He provides. What is different about your life today as a result of what Jesus did for you 2,000 years ago? What is keeping you from fully surrendering your life to His control? What is keeping you from trusting Him with your life daily and eternally? Have you received His forgiveness? You can be free! Pursuing God, Stephen Trammell Pastor of Leadership and Pastoral Care