To Love is To Forgive

MARCH 02, 2021

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

THOUGHT ON GOD’S WORD:

    As a young boy I occasionally got into fights. I know you can never imagine it, but it is true. If someone would hit me, my first reaction was always to hit back. Sometimes if they just spoke to me with a cross word it was enough for me to start a fight with them. I guess I read the golden rule wrong. I thought it said, “do unto others…before they got a chance to do it to you.” I have since found out that the bible says in Matthew 7:12, “…whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: …” However, no matter the reason for the fight, as with most children, after a while, sometimes hours, maybe days, or on rare occasion weeks, I would finally forgive them or forget about it and all would seem well again. We would be playing together like nothing ever happened.

    Sometimes forgiving seems hard. But can you imagine forgiving someone who is in the process of taking your life? In our verse today, this is what Jesus was doing. He looked at the Roman Soldiers who nailed Him to the cross and said, “Father, forgive them,” as they divide His clothes. Looking at the crowd which stood by, He said, “Father, forgive them,” as they watched and did nothing to stop this horrible crime. If that were not enough, did you ever stop to think that Jesus looked into the vast regions of time, looking at us, at our sin which caused Him to have to die on that cross and said, “Father, forgive them,” and when He said it, He meant YOU and ME.     

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

    Just as Jesus prayed for believers in John chapter 17, I believe He also prayed for us all in Luke 23:34, “Forgive them.” He was talking of all those who hung Him on the cross, and friend this includes you and me. His forgiveness is real if you will only accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. The payment for our sin was paid that day on the cross. Then, the one who paid the price said, “Father, forgive them.” What an awesome display of love in just those three words.

GOD TALKING TO ME:  MARCH 02, 2021

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING  (O.T.-1/N.T. & PS.-2/Prov.-Monthly)
Leviticus 26     /     Psalm 55     /     Proverbs 1-2     /     Luke 23

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
Numbers 1-3           /    Mark 6:1-31

Living In His Word Ministries

       “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12