Father, Forgive Them!

Luke 23:34 (NIV) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Yesterday morning I had the wonderful privilege of attending a little country church for the Sunday morning service. As the pastor began speaking, he quoted Luke 23:34. Many thoughts filled my mind as he delivered his message and continued to speak about loving and forgiving others. How could Jesus forgive His enemies after receiving painful, agonizing punishment that was delivered so brutally and spitefully? And how could Jesus forgive his enemies when he did nothing wrong? He did not deserve even the first strike on his body, but yet as He continued to endure the pain, He sought the Father's forgiveness for their sins. There are a couple lessons that I learned yesterday that are very valuable and worth sharing. Forgiveness only comes from our Father in Heaven. Jesus didn't say I forgive you, he pleaded with the Father in Heaven to provide them with the ultimate forgiveness. In the same way, when we forgive each other, we are asking God to cancel the sin. Isn't that awesome?! The second main point is that forgiveness is available for everyone. Everyone is eligible to receive God's forgiveness! Matthew 6:14-15 says, "If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." In Mark 11:25, Jesus said, "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins." Dear Friend, how about you? Have you forgiven your enemies? Jesus said to 'forgive them for they know not what they do' but sometimes this is the most difficult task, especially after enduring hardship and suffering. Take a few moments right now and ask God to cleanse your heart and to show you how to love and forgive others as He has so lovingly demonstrated on the cross. Blessings to You Today, Dave Henry