DCLM Sincere Milk 24 September 2022 — Problems about forgiveness
DCLM Sincere Milk 24 September 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Problems about forgiveness
TOPIC: PROBLEMS ABOUT FORGIVENESS
TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 2:5-11
6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.
10To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ;
11Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Key Verse: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:11).
MESSAGE:
When people do wrong things, they are corrected or punished. The reason is to help them realize their wrongs and change their ways. Also, it is to serve as a warning to others. When a person repents, he is supposed to be fully forgiven and accepted back into friendship and favour.
In our Bible passage, Paul teaches those who forgive to avoid the problem of behaving towards the person forgiven with the remembrance of his wrong even though he has been forgiven. Another problem to avoid about forgiveness is forgiving others without expressing it to them in words and action of acceptance.
Also Read: DCLM Sincere Milk 23 September 2022 — Success through diligence
When you forgive a person, communicate it by words and action of acceptance. The reason for this is that the person forgiven also needs to overcome the problem of not forgiving himself. Learn to forgive yourself when the person you offended has forgiven you. Allow your mind to accept and enjoy the benefits of the forgiveness. God is greater than your mind.
Do not condemn yourself. Satan likes to see you have that feeling of guilt even when God has forgiven you. It is his trick to prevent you from feeling and enjoying God’s love fully. So, lift up the hands that hang down and the head that is bowed. Accept God’s forgiveness. Be happy and leave your life to please God.
Prayer: Lord, I trust You and accept Your forgiveness and love today.
Further Reading: 1 John 1:7-9
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
