| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"rhuff163" |
| Date: |
29 Nov 2004 11:38:16 PM |
| Object: |
The advantage of being forgiven |
Devotional Guide
For the week of November 28, 2004
THE COMING OF CHRIST
The advantage of being forgiven
To Read: Jeremiah 25-27
To Know:
"Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved
much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.'" (Lk. 7:47)
Walter was a self-professed, self-made man. The one quality that was glaring
by its absence in his life was thankfulness. He considered that for his
successes he had no one to thank except himself. In his teens, Walter set
down two goals from which he never strayed throughout his life. First, he
determined to become independently wealthy; and second, he promised himself
that he would retire at age fifty. Both came true. Walter, although he was
twenty-five years my senior, was my friend. Our friendship extended from the
golf course to the home. We met each other as competitors on the links and
couples in our homes. Although we talked of many things, he was fascinated
by my faith. He wondered at my willingness to give thanks to God for his
forgiveness. He had surveyed his own life and found nothing for which to ask
forgiveness and nothing for which to thank anyone except himself. He was
satisfied to credit himself with creating all the good that he enjoyed.
Walter was proud and he was hard. Thanklessness had helped harden his heart.
The man was not hateful, but he had successfully distanced himself from the
hurts of others. He absolved himself from the need to care. Love was not a
priority in his life.
A Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner and proceeded to treat him like an
intruder. He did not wash the Lord's feet. By this the man showed himself to
be among the unforgiven. God willed our need to be forgiven. Would it have
been wise for the Lord to create a world in which sin was not permitted to
enter? Such a world would have created a brittle human spirit. Being
forgiven softens us. Being forgiven frees us to care. It is often the
forgiven that offer themselves to help others
11304$-11304
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