Is forgiveness possible?

This weekend has been a significant reminder of the atrocity of 9/11. I really can't believe that twenty years has come and gone so quickly and it is hard to imagine what our world was like before then. Of course the pain of remembering loved ones is always there for each one of us, but when your family are killed in such brutal ways, it must be hard to even contemplate forgiveness. 

This is the truly difficult part of Jesus' teaching on forgiveness and loving our enemies. It sounds good in theory, but when we have to put it into practise it is a mammoth task. Paul offers us this suggestion and it is a helpful starting point for us: 

"If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him. After all, you have never yet struggled against sin and temptation until you sweat great drops of blood." (Hebrews 12:3-4)

May you know the love of Jesus as you seek to love those around you.

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you." - Lewis Smedes

Living in Grace

D3LM3

God Remembers

I have been encouraged by the following scriptures this week which have reminded me that God will never forget us. Sure, at times, I will 'feel' as if God has moved off, but He hasn't gone anywhere - God remembers us all the time!

Exodus 2:24 - God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Psalm 98:3 - He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

Psalm 106:45 - He remembered his covenant with them and relented because of his unfailing love.

Isaiah 44:21 - “Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you.

Living in Grace

D3LM3