Forgiveness Born Out Of Love
Have you ever heard someone say that they forgive you, but act like they are still angry with you? Forgiveness is much more than just words. Forgiveness is an attitude of the heart that is evident in a person’s actions.
Jesus teaches about God’s forgiveness in the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. In the story, the prodigal son rejected his own father and chose to live life on his own terms in a far off city. The son wasted everything his father had given him and ultimately faced starvation. Finally, coming to his senses, the boy returned home and begged his father to forgive him. The father’s response must have astounded the son.
The father did not point fingers at his son or remind him of how sinful he had acted. Instead the father said, “Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:22-24).
That is forgiveness! And that is exactly the way that God shows forgiveness to you. God’s forgiveness is born out of His deep love for you. You may have once been His lost child, but now you are found. He will not remind you of your failures or withhold His goodness from you as though He were mad at you. God loves you with an everlasting and unconditional love. In His eyes, you are no longer someone who once sinned against Him. Instead, you are perfect to Him!
Prayer for the day:
Thank God for His forgiveness. Pray that you will learn to forgive others the way that He has forgiven you.
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