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.
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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. Archives
January 2025
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