Daily Thought for Thursday, May 5th

May 5, 2011

Forgiving Others

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.”

-  C. S. Lewis

Today’s Thought:

“Be assured that if you knew all, you would pardon all.” – Thomas a Kempis

Today’s Question

Have you ever stopped and considered that, “Men never forgive those in whom there is nothing to pardon?” – Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“To err is human, to forgive, divine!”

- Alexander Pope

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

- The Bible (Matthew 5:43-44)

“The worst of men are those who will not forgive.” – Thomas Fuller

“He who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.” – Johann Kaspar Lavater

God’s love covered a multitude of sins when Jesus shed His blood on the cross as the ultimate sacrificial lamb offered for the atonement for the sins of humanity.  That included you and me.  Though Paul counted himself as the chiefest of sinners, I’m sure many of us could join in and possibly give some competition for that title.

We have been loved with such a great love and God asks us to give that love to others.  Part of doing that is being willing to forgive not only those we love, but also those we may not like so much.

“Forgiveness is the answer to the child’s dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is again made clean.” – Dag Hammarskjold

The forgiveness we receive from God is nothing short of miraculous.  We deserve death and He is offering us life.  If we have been given so much, is it unreasonable to expect that we should be willing to give in like kind?

Remember, “He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself: for every man has need to be forgiven.” – Thomas Fuller

Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” – The Bible (Matthew 5:7)   He also said, if we love Him, we will do the things He tells us too.

“What power has love but forgiveness?

In other words

By it’s intervention

What has been done

Can be undone.

What good is it otherwise?”

- William Carlos Williams

Today’s Verses:

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:29-32

Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

                        Matthew 18:21-22

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Matthew 5:38-42

Today’s Prayer:

Father, as you love me, so may I love others: as I desire to be forgiven by you, may I also be willing to forgive.