Daily Devotional for Wednesday, September 9

The Individual

“But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many,” 2 Corinthians 2:5, 6.
Some years back, there was a fellow who would not speak a word to me. The rebuff was quite apparent. Anyone watching knew that this man did not like me. He never told me why, though it seems from what others said that he did not like me because I was friends with someone he did not like. Grown-ups, right? At any rate, after some years, we did end up talking at least on a social level. How that happened was ironic. I had written a letter and placed it on his pew one Sunday, hoping to find out what the problem was, and asked his forgiveness for any offense. I also offered help if he ever needed it. One day, he needed it! He needed a skill that I was the only one in the church who had and asked me to help him. Imagine my surprise! I really wanted to laugh and tell him, “Good luck with that.” But I had offered, and Christians should be people of their word.
That was the moment I was able to forgive my brother for his rude, ugly conduct toward me. I never knew what the problem was, and he certainly never said he was sorry. On the other hand, we behaved like civil adults from that point forward.
We are commanded and taught by Jesus to forgive and to forgive with no conditions. We may not like that, but it is what our Lord has told us to do. That is what He offers to us, unconditional forgiveness, and He expects us to pass it along. Who will you forgive today?

Just a Thought
Can you imagine what it would be like in our churches if we even tried to forgive like Jesus?

Wally Fry