Living 4 Him

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins we might live for righteousness.” 1 Peter 2:24

Imagine in your mind’s eye a tree standing tall and vibrant, rustling with healthy green leaves.  Now, envision dead branches poking their way into the leafy branches.  Bare branches holding no life, no purpose.  The tree looks different now, doesn’t it? 

Dead branches are like the spots in our souls where sin has separated us from God’s best plans; spots in our soul that are dull and lifeless, needing a drink of Living Water from the Savior.  Asking forgiveness is paramount to our relationship with God who stands ready flood our lives with grace.

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” Matthew 6:12

Desiring forgiveness from God demonstrates our desire to live in God’s hopes for us. We come to God with a willing heart, realizing that in this broken world we are not perfect, but we are loved by the One who is.  God is there to cover our “misses.”

Mistakes. Misunderstandings. Misdirections. Misjudgments. Misbehavior. Misleadings. Misinterpretations. Misgivings. Mishandlings.

Desiring forgiveness from God recognizes the sacrifice made for us and the new life made available.  By receiving God’s forgiveness, our dead branches come alive with new resolve and new hope, basking in the prosperity of spirit that God offers each one of us.  

Desiring forgiveness from God develops an awareness that we are not only loved by God, but we are becoming like God and able to forgive others freely.  Forgiveness is an act of love, born out of a deep compassion and respect for another soul, requiring empathy, patience and self-control. When we choose to forgive, it is the closest we come to imitating God’s love.

After completing the words of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus spells out the extreme importance of forgiveness in our lives.  ^” For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15  The act of forgiveness opens a highway of mercy that travels in both directions.  Love flows freely among hearts that desire and receive forgiveness. When we forgive, we see the world through God’s eyes, dispensing grace while discovering we all experience the same “misses” on this earth.

Catherine Marshall describes forgiveness in this way: Forgiving is a minor miracle, a bloodless surgery we perform on our spirits.  Freedom comes through forgiveness, both giving and receiving.  We expose ourselves to the wondrous works God desires to perform in us. And the result is a fuller, deeper relationship with God and with those around us.

Give God the dead branches of your soul.  Ask for his forgiveness and mercy. Then, watch your branches come alive again with his fruit!

Reaching in (allowing God’s Word to work in your soul): Take some time to read these scriptures that highlight God’s forgiveness (Colossians 1:13-14, Luke 24:46-47, 1 John 1:9) and sincerely thank God for the great gift of his grace.

Reaching out (taking God’s Word into the world): Where do you feel a need for God’s forgiving touch?  Pray for God to show you where unforgiveness is limiting your life, receive his mercy and go forward sharing forgiveness with others.