Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Today's Frontline Devotion
Saturday, August 30, 2003
THE ONGOING MARATHON OF FORGIVENESS
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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Today's Frontline Devotion
Saturday, August 30, 2003 THE ONGOING MARATHON OF FORGIVENESS |
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Frontline Devotion for August 30, 2003 by Pastor Dave Sonnenberg
Anger has a way of multiplying. You come home and kick the dog. The dog gets upset. Another member of your household gets mad at you for kicking the dog. Then everybody is mad at everybody.
Anger is something that we see in this world. We hear of people cursing one another. We see anger exhibited on the highways and in inpatient customers. We sometimes see anger on the sports field and hear it on the other end of the phone line.
Everybody I know has experienced anger. Some people I know have trouble dealing with their own anger or the anger of someone they work with.
I guess what stands out in the text today is Peter’s conversation with Jesus. He says to Jesus, “how shall I deal with someone who I’m angry with? What’s the limits of forgiveness- you know, the point where I stop forgiving and can stay angry?” Jesus’ response in my opinion is saying, keep on forgiving. Put your emphasis on forgiving and giving people the opportunity to change their behavior. Jesus seems to show that the way to get rid of “wrong” is not by continuing the cycle of anger.
I guess when push comes to shove, getting angry is always the easy path. When someone has wronged us, it is so easy to yell at them or talk behind their back or to internalize our anger and let that affect our actions. Getting up and taking the first step by offering forgiveness is hard work, it’s radical, and it’s Christ inspired.
What I see Jesus saying is that when someone has been forgiven, they receive a red carpet opportunity to live differently. Not all will take that opportunity. Some will continue “wronging” others. But, think how much joy in heaven there is (and on earth as well) when a wrongdoer is offered forgiveness and takes that opportunity to live differently.
Not the easiest stuff. There are indeed many situations in the world where we might say, “it just can’t apply to today’s world.” But, the power of God transforms people in every age. Forgiveness was radical in the 1st century. It’s just as radical today. Put your emphasis on showing forgiving grace to others.
Lord God, help us to show forgiving grace to other people each and every day. Help us to be marathon distributors of forgiveness this day and in all the days to come. Amen
to respond to this devotion, write mailto:pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org
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