 | Devotion 6 Mark 11: 20-25 Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” |
Today's thought from Tim Keller
The gospel calls us to keep an equal concern (a) to speak the truth and honor what is right, yet (b) to be endlessly forgiving as we do so and (c) to never give up on the goal of a reconciled, warm relationship.
First, God requires forgiveness whether or not the offender has repented and has asked for forgiveness. This does not say “forgive him if he repents” but rather “forgive him right there—as you are praying.”
Second, God requires speaking the truth. We must completely surrender the right to pay back or get even, yet at the same time we must never overlook injustice and must require serious wrongdoings to be redressed.
This is almost the very opposite of how we ordinarily operate... we are to speak openly about what has happened with a desire to help.
First, God requires forgiveness whether or not the offender has repented and has asked for forgiveness. This does not say “forgive him if he repents” but rather “forgive him right there—as you are praying.”
Second, God requires speaking the truth. We must completely surrender the right to pay back or get even, yet at the same time we must never overlook injustice and must require serious wrongdoings to be redressed.
This is almost the very opposite of how we ordinarily operate... we are to speak openly about what has happened with a desire to help.
Lord Jesus, may I be a vessel of God’s grace given by the work of your power.
To you be glory in my life, in the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.” (adapted from Ephesians 3: 7, 20)
To you be glory in my life, in the church and in Christ Jesus, to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.” (adapted from Ephesians 3: 7, 20)
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