DIG for Sunday the 1st of March…..our model for forgiveness…..Ephesians 4 v 32

In many ways in the Christian life we try and model ourselves on God.

One such area that I was thinking about this afternoon (in preparation for a message) was forgiveness.

God is the ultimate example when it comes to forgiveness and is the “model” that we should aspire to.

God bestowed forgiveness upon man through the finished work of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1 v 7 and Colossians 1 v 14).

On the cross Jesus paid for, or was the propitiation, for all sin for all people for all time (1 John 2 v 2).

With that one sacrifice on the cross Jesus dealt with all sin (Hebrews 10 v 12 and 14).

In a real sense everyone was forgiven for everything at that point.

Bottom line is that God forgave everybody for everything, and this is what we should be aiming for.

The model of forgiveness that we should aspire to is to forgive every person for everything.

Paul writes that we should forgive as God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4 v 32 and Colossians 3 v 13); this means everybody for everything.

We really do not have a choice in the matter, except that we do.We choose whether we forgive or not, even when we say, “I cannot forgive” that is actually a choice we make.

Dare I make another comment here; that God has forgiven us unconditionally!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I have complete, absolute and unconditional forgiveness through the finished work of Jesus Christ”.

Ephesians 4 v 32…..And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you

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DIG for Saturday the 28th of February…..He has given us a new commandment…..John 13 v 34 and 35

I think that this new commandment that Jesus spoke about at the end of John 13 must be very important, as He said the same thing three times in the same breath; that we were to love one another.

Jesus was talking to His disciples here and we can take it that He is therefore speaking the same thing to us today.

What struck me this morning were the words “missing” from this statement.

He did not say, “Love one another in your church”.

He did not say, “Love one another in your denomination”.

He did not say, “Love one another with the same doctrine or theology”.

He simply said, “Love one another”.

We are to love one another (all believers) to show the love of Jesus to a needy world.

What we seem to do sometimes however is show how to gossip, hate and slander one another; and that is not a good witness.

If you feel the need to talk like this or behave like this toward another brother or sister in the Lord please think about John 13 v 34 and 35 first.

Is this an example of loving one another?

Is this what the world needs to see from you?

Will this lead people to the love of Jesus?

Now this is not meant to condemn or make anyone feel guilt, however it is a fact of life in the church today, but it need not be!

Love one another, it is not a difficult concept; to do anything otherwise is a conscious choice against the words and will of Jesus.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the example of Jesus who loved all men”.

John 13 v 34 and 35…..A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one to another