TOPIC: Forgive And Forget
MEMORISE: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. – Matthew 6:15
BIBLE READING: Genesis 50:17-21
17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.Faith-based books
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
MESSAGE:
Forgiveness is a conscious act which entails letting go of the desire for revenge. Jesus was shamed and disgraced, yet He forgave and prayed for His offenders. In fact, Jesus still intercedes on behalf of man before God in heaven (Romans 8:34).
A school of thought believes that even though people can forgive their offenders, they can never forget the offence. If you support this notion, it means that you don’t understand the power of redemption. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, theologians said that He could have called ten thousand angels to defend Him and destroy the world, but He chose to pray for them that God would forgive their sins.
This became the strategy for me to also heal fast from any pain. When someone does something terrible to me, rather than getting angry, I cry to God in prayers and then begin to pray for the fellow as well. The more I do this, the easier it gets to forget the offence over time. You can also imbibe this culture. When you do this, it will be much easier to forgive and forget offences.
ACTION POINT:
It is easier to forgive offences when you pray for those who offend you.
HYMN 55: Christian, Seek Not Yet Repose
1 Christian, Seek Not Yet Repose;
Hear Thy Guardian Angel Say,
“Thou Art In The Midst Of Foes:
Watch And Pray!”
2 Principalities And Powers,
Mustering Their Unseen Array,
Wait For Thy Unguarded Hours:
“Watch And Pray.”
3 Gird Thy Heavenly Armour On;
Wear It Every Night And Day
Ambush’d Lies The Evil One:
“Watch And Pray.”
4 Hear The Victors Who O’ercame;
Still They Mark Each Warrior’s Way;
All With One Sweet Voice Exclaim,
“Watch And Pray!”
5 Hear, Above AlI, Hear Thy Lord,
Him Thou Lovest To Obey;
Hide Within Thy Heart His Word:
“Watch And Pra!.”
6 Watch, As If On That Alone
Hung The Issue Of The Day;
Pray, That Help May Be Sent Down:
Watch And Pray.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 15:1-16:31, John 2:1-25
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye