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by Hillary Krahn For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. -Psalm 103:11-12
Have you heard the saying, “Measure twice, cut once”? If you’ve ever worked on home improvement projects or woodworking, you’ll know, measurement is very important. If you don’t cut the hole in the wall for the new window to the right height, width, and depth, you may not fit that new window, or it may fall through completely. If you’re making a staircase for your new deck and you don’t measure the height or the width of the stair treads properly, you may not be able to access your new deck. The type of measurement that the Psalmist is talking about in today’s verse, however, is one that far exceeds our tape measure. The measurement that’s being talked about is the height, depth, breadth, and width of God’s forgiveness. Can we take a tape measure to God’s forgiveness? No, we can’t. However, we can know that how far he removes our transgressions from us is an unfathomable distance. He doesn’t just take them to the local dump, or to the next planet, he takes them as far as the heavens from the earth. Astronauts have been pretty far into space, and I don’t think they’ve found heaven yet! God’s removal of our transgressions knows no bounds!! This isn’t just a one time, temporary removal either. We’re told that God’s love is steadfast, meaning that it’s unchanging and everlasting. He continues to forgive us day in and day out because we fear him and he loves us. Next time you get out your measuring tape, I hope you’re reminded that God’s forgiveness isn’t confined to that tape, it’s boundless. Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for being a steadfast and loving constant point in my life. Thank you for the unmeasurable forgiveness you offer through your Son and for taking my transgressions farther than I could ever imagine. Help me to recall your forgiveness as I continue to focus on the cross during Lent. In Jesus name, Amen.
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by Pastor Kyle Wangelin Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” -Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness can be exhausting. Peter speaks of this truth as he asks Jesus how many times he is supposed to forgive someone who sins against him. Peter is actually trying to impress Jesus by saying he is willing to forgive someone as many as seven times! Are you? It grows tiresome to forgive the same person for the same thing over and over again. We begin to ask ourselves if this person will ever change their behavior, if they will ever overcome their addiction, if they will ever grow up and mature. But then we hear Jesus’ response to Peter. No, not seven times. Again. Forgive them again. And when they sin against you again, you forgive them again. As we are beaten down by the sins around us and against us, growing weary and hesitant to forgive again, remember what Jesus has done for you. We are all that sinner. We have all sinned again, but Jesus has forgiven again. Take heart! And know what Jesus has done for, that He make work through you to forgive those trespass against you. Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned greatly. Some I am aware of, some I am not. But no matter the circumstances, you have forgiven me again because of the steadfast love that you have for me. Now that I have been freed from the burden of sin, may I be moved to take that burden from someone else by forgiving them. In Jesus’ name. Amen. by David Gosa So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets. -Matthew 7:12 Why are the simplest things in life sometimes the hardest things to do. I found some interesting quotes about simplicity. Maybe you have heard several of these before. “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” “Don’t make the process harder than it is.” The last one hold true in my life. As a kid my Dad would continually say to me, why do you constantly make everything more difficult than it needs to be. Unfortunately, it just in our nature to make simply things challenging. As I was reading Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. The first thing that came to my mind was “WOW” that’s really simple, but why do people constantly mistreat people? As Christians we need to make sure that we treat people the way that we want to treated. I truly believe our world would be a better place if we spent more time building people up, then storing up information to tear them down. As you go about your Lenten journey I would like to challenge all of you to think and say something nice about every person that you spent time with during your day. Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me cling to you in all my challenging times. Help me to build others up throughout my day. Amen. by Anna Thiem Hatred stirs quarrels but love overlooks insults - Proverbs 10:12
Do you ever feel uneasy, torn in two? Trying to calm the internal quarrel that is never ending? Living one way on the outside and trying to survive on the inside? Trying to fake it till you make it mentality. Take a second and stop. Breathe. Focus on the Cross. Release your sins, worries, anger, resentment, feelings of inadequacy to God. Focus on God. He is our Savior. The Cross is the solution. All these stressors and sins and unfairness that you’re holding onto are results of the evil world, but you are not part of this world. Instead, you are His. You are forgiven. You can live loved. You have the Holy Spirit to change your days of turmoil and self-hatred into days of joy and peace. How do you find this peace? Trust in the Holy Spirit and forgive yourself first. You are worth it- God has already forgiven you so why hold onto it? God chose you and God loves you. God has paid your sins in full and loves you dearly. Take time today and this Lenten season to remind yourself that you are loved. Forgive yourself of your past mistakes- You have grown from that into the person God leads you to be. Believe “in Jesus.” Believing in Him is more than hearing His story, it’s accepting and believing He did this for You. God is so good and great; He uses your weaknesses for His good. Until you truly believe “in Jesus”, you cannot truly share His love with others. You are the one He died for and He has found you worthy of His sacrifice. Once you truly believe “In Jesus”, you will live loved and have the ability to live the way God has intended. Chose Him this Lenten season and always- He has already chosen you. Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for your ultimate sacrifice on the cross. I am worthy only through you. Remind me daily that forgiveness starts with myself and opens a world of love to those around me. Help me to believe IN YOU and live loved. I pray I can release any insults I have against myself and my neighbors, just as you have forgiven me. Thank you Lord for loving me today and always. Thank you for choosing me. Amen. by Hillary Krahn “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5
The Christian Band, Crowder, has a very heartfelt, Lent-themed, song called Forgiven. In the song, they sing: I'm the one who held the nail, It was cold between my fingertips…God I fall down to my knees with a hammer in my hand You look at me arms open…continuing with a refrain of, forgiven, forgiven. The song takes the responsibility of Jesus’ crucifixion and places it on the singer. “It was me!”, it cries, “I’m responsible for his death!” Just as the prophet Isaiah says, “He was pierced for OUR transgressions, crushed for OUR iniquities, his punishment brought us peace.” As we look at Lent and the crucifixion, take time to view it more personally instead of globally, individually instead of pointing elsewhere. As an individual, we are all sinners, transgressors, the ones for whom the Savior offered his life for. We are all the ones holding the nails of sin, ready to pierce the Savior. He faces us as transgressors willingly! His arms are wide open on the cross, taking our sin with him. When we picture his arms wide open, it almost appears a welcoming embrace for the sinner, a forgiveness that is unparalleled and filled with love. The paradox here is that we’ve wounded HIM but it has healed US. Think about it for a moment, our peace is possible because of his punishment, and yet he forgives us! Let it be your mantra as you continue through the next few weeks. I’m forgiven! I have peace because of Jesus! Prayer: Heavenly Father, have mercy on me, a sinner. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness found in the gift of your Son. Help me to remember that if it wasn’t for your love, and for Jesus’ death, I wouldn’t have peace. Thank you for that peace, thank you for your love. In Jesus Name, Amen. by Keri Gosa Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. -Ephesians 5:15-17
Time is an interesting thing. When my girls were little they gauged time in sleeps. We lived out of state away from grandparents most of their childhood so they were always counting to the next visit with Grandma and Grandpa. They might say 30 more sleeps until we see them again or 12 more sleeps till we are at their house. It eased their minds to count down the sleeps until an event or visit happened. That was their way of gauging time. I think about time a lot when I am praying. In prayer we usually want the answers soon if not even now. God has His own perfect timing which doesn’t always or might never match our timelines. Take Joseph, he lived for roughly 13 years serving Potipher and in prison. I am sure he was praying about his situation and God had him wait. That waiting created an even better story. Waiting can be hard and gauging time can be even more difficult, but God always has perfect timing. Thank goodness God doesn’t make us count sleeps until we get our answers. His timing is always perfect no matter the amount of sleeps. Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you so much for sending your Son at the perfect time to wash away my sins and give me eternal life. Please help me to use my time wisely in service to You in all that I do. Amen. by Hillary Krahn “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” -Colossians 3:13
The reminder that the Apostle Paul sent to the Colossians is still fitting for us today over 1900 years later. The Colossians have been given a new self having been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, and they needed reminding about what this meant for their lives. Compassion, kindness, humility, patience, love, and most importantly forgiveness for one another were at the top of the qualities that Paul told the Colossians they should have. Because we have a new life in Christ, we should have these qualities as well. Putting on that new self which mirrors the best attributes of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Is this easier said than done in a world rife with sin? We live in a day and age where it has become important to be number one. If you aren’t “looking out for yourself”, “being the best you can be”, or “putting yourself first” are you even trying? The world wants you to be validated, the world wants you to be right, the world does not want you to forgive and forget. If someone has done something that makes you upset, the world wants you to complain until you get your way!! Look at how effective a Google review or Yelp review can be in making or breaking someone’s business! Let’s look instead at the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of the world. It seems a little upside down compared to today’s standards! However, can you see Jesus sitting on Google and giving a one star review because his cappuccino wasn’t exactly the way HE liked it? Or would he have looked at the burden of the barista working the shop alone, forgave, and acted out of love? Can you see Jesus being a keyboard warrior, firing off complaints every time something didn’t go his way? Jesus had his fair share of things not going the way he liked, look at the burden he bore on the cross. He bore the burden, and did so out of love! When we start looking at our complaints, they seem like small change compared to what our Savior experienced for us. We should instead be bearing burdens together, out of love for one another, and offering forgiveness. When we start getting pulled into our sinful, worldly self, remember the Colossians. The Lutheran Study Bible puts it beautifully, “As we each struggle with our own temptations, so we understand the struggles of others. ‘You also must forgive’ echoes the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:12). Forgiving others shows that we truly believe God has forgiven us.” Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me put on a spirit of compassion, kindness, humility, patience, love, and forgiveness. Let me not lose sight of how you have forgiven me as I walk my life with others. Let me share in their burden, forgiving them when they have wronged me instead of holding a grudge. Allow me to model the love and forgiveness of your beloved Son, Jesus. Amen. by Mara Fredrick “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.” -Ephesians 4:32 How often do we find ourselves being unkind to the people around us. Whether it is someone who cut in front of you in line at the grocery store, a bout of road rage on the highway, or even a waiter or waitress who forgot to bring you a glass of water. We catch ourselves being hostile and unkind, maybe wanting to seek revenge or “get even” with that person. Unfortunately, this seems to be something that happens more often the world we live in today . As Christians we are told, to be kind, forgive those around us for even the smallest mistakes. Christ commands us to be kind and forgive. It is important for us to remember, we are forgiven, we were forgiven for all of our sins, for all of our mistakes, whether big or small. And because we are forgiven, Christ gives us the strength to forgive those around us and treat them with kindness. As we continue through this Lenten season, I encourage you to be kind to one another, forgive each other. Forgive someone for something small they may have done or someone who you have held a resentment against. Forgive them, because we would not be the Christians we are if God had not forgiven us first. Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me to have a heart of kindness and forgiveness. Thank you for the forgiveness I have through your son. Amen. by Lisa Kalscheur He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. -Colossians 1:13-14
I was talking with a longtime friend the other day about a person that had betrayed her deeply. I asked her, “do you forgive him?” She replied with disgust. “No way. I could never. After everything he put me through? Not a chance.” I thought she was going to kick me out for even asking. We have been friends for long enough to withstand tougher discussions and disagreements, however I also didn’t push the envelope any further. It was clear where she stood. Giving someone something they do not deserve goes against our nature. When you add in betrayal or pain that someone caused, it becomes even harder. Our sinful hearts hold forgiveness hostage. It is the one thing left that we have control over when the dust settles. It is the final phase of letting go, and it can only happen with God. Our Father delivered us from the darkness of our ways into His kingdom by incarnating into this world, where the mission was to endure horrible pain and anguish and give His life on the cross to save His beloved creation that had betrayed Him. Talk about forgiveness! Without Jesus, we are left clinging to anger, resentment, and fear. With Jesus, we are free. He bestows upon us the ability to forgive because He forgives us. Jesus endured what we deserved. We have been given the gift of forgiveness that we surely do not deserve. Therefore, we must work to find it in our hearts to forgive others that are equally undeserving. In God’s eyes, we are no better. This can be a difficult process, but it is possible because we have God. Prayer: Lord Jesus, you endured more than we could ever imagine so we could be free from our sins. We do not deserve your forgiveness, and yet, you suffered immensely so we could be forgiven. Let this be a reminder as we go about our days. Many of us have had experiences with others who have hurt us deeply and are having trouble forgiving them for the mess they caused. Jesus, we ask that you lead us and give us the strength and ability to forgive and stop clinging to our anger. Instead, let us all cling to You and only You. Amen. by Pastor Kyle Wangelin If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9 “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” You have most likely heard this phrase or perhaps even spoken this phrase a time or two. Maybe you knew someone who owned a business and they gave your child a job. Maybe you have a friend who has the necessary equipment that can make a task at home much simpler. Maybe you knew the cop that had pulled you over for speeding and he let you go without a ticket! In some ways, the phrase is true. The people that we know are so incredibly valuable to us as we together love each other as ourselves. But in terms of our relationship with God the Father, it’s not about who you know, but rather, who knows you! John writes these famous words that we now recite in Divine Service Setting One on Sunday mornings, to tell of Jesus’ love to the recipients of his letter. He writes that while we are sinners, we now have an advocate with the Father. Because Jesus knows us, brought us into His fold, and forgiven our sins, our Heavenly Father now looks upon us as being righteous. Jesus knows you, and loves you so much, that He was willing to die on the cross that your sins would be forgiven, and your joy would be complete! Prayer: Dear God, please continue to give me an honest heart that I may be truthful to you as I confess my sins. I have sinned greatly, yet you have sent your Son to advocate for me. Thank you for creating me and knowing who I am. But most importantly, thank you for the gift of forgiveness given in Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen. |
About the AuthorsThe authors of this Lenten devotional are all staff members of Zion Lutheran Church & School of Wayside. They have answered the call to preach and teach the good news of salvation to both the young and the old of the school and congregation. This group of believers have a strong faith rooted in the Word. They are all members of the church professing the Christian faith and are excited to share their love of Jesus with you during this season. ArchivesCategories |
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