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The Fabric of Forgiveness

The Fabric of Forgiveness

Words of Faith 11-12-19

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2019

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Colossians 3

    [13] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

 

      The Lord Jesus is our wardrobe designer—our Heavenly Haberdasher—as we put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (v.10).  He clothes us with forbearance such that we can lean on and put up with one another.  It is not that we are “tolerant” toward un-confessed sin within the Body. But we are forbearing toward the weaknesses, failures, bad habits, or irritating behavior of one another.

      Bit there is another fabric in our new clothing, and that is forgiveness.  It is a similar weave to forbearance but even more powerful.  We are called to forgive one another whatever grievances we might have or any grudges we may hold against another.  There are those hurts and difficulties that go beyond annoyance.

       Of course, there are some sins that are not ours to forgive because they are against God or another person.  But inasmuch as a person offends us, we are to forgive those offenses as we have been forgiven.

       The word translated "grievance" means a fault or a quarrel, a complaint, or "the blame" of a matter.  The matter could be large or small.  If we are truly believers clothed with Christ, we will not play the “blame game” or hold grudges.  We recognize that Christ has freely extended forgiveness to us, and we are called to extend the same freely.  Jesus taught us to pray—Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

        The word translated “forgive” comes from the word grace.  We are to extend favor and pardon in terms of our cost, inconvenience, or hurt. Interestingly, the word also means “rescue” or “deliverance."  There is a sense in which we act as the agent of God in extending His.  While we do not deliver people or rescue them, God may well use the grace extended by us to bring about some sort of deliverance.

        We are called to be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Eph. 4:32).  Grudges have no place in a believer’s life.  Grievances and blame lead us back into the old patterns and “old clothing” that Christ has taken away-- anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language and lies (3:8-9).

         So how is your forgiveness wardrobe?  Are you clothed with the fabric of forgiveness?  When people think of their interactions with you, do they think of the forgiveness of Christ extended to them?  Do they experience the grace of Christ in you?  As you interact with people, do you claim your rights, direct your blame, or hold your grudge?  Or are you a minister of reconciliation wearing an ambassador’s clothing made from the fabric of forgiveness.

         The truth is that the more tightly we cling to our rights, blame, and grudges, the more difficult it is for the Lord to pour His grace and mercy into our hands.

 

      Father God, I thank You that Your mercies are everlasting.  I am so grateful for Your forgiveness and mercy.  Clothe me with the fabric of forgiveness.  Make me an instrument of Your peace and reconciliation.  Show me those to whom I need to extend favor and pardon.  Show me the rights, grudges, and blame I have been clinging to.  Pour your grace and mercy through my hands.  In Jesus' Name. 

 

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, and our website, and our church app, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.  

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