Dear Ones,
Hope you had a wonderful weekend. We enjoyed the Kansas City win last night as we are going to Kurt’s to celebrate the Super Bowl and were hoping they would win. Today I plan to do food prep and go to Aldi’s and to Exercise class.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We who have been forgiven much often have a hard time to forgive. We never outgrow out need to forgive and to be forgiven for we all keep sinning daily whether it be in our thoughts or actions. Recently I was reading a chapter on Unilateral Forgiveness in Larry Christianson’s book, and it woke me anew to the power of forgiveness. Maybe as we are reading this, we are filled with hurt feelings over what someone said of us or did to us, and yet we know Jesus words to forgive for He says, “Forgive and you will be forgiven” (Luke 7:37). We are not to only forgive if someone asks for forgiveness but even when they never acknowledge that they did wrong. That is called Unilateral forgiveness which Christianson describes as one-sided forgiveness.

I did not realize this before, but Jesus never had anyone come to him and ask forgiveness. No one said, “Jesus, will you forgive me!” But He forgave and often said to others, “Your sins are forgiven”. His life is the greatest example of unilateral forgiveness as He was crucified for our sins on the cross and asked the Father to forgive us. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) The Lord also expects us to unilaterally forgive all those in our life or we won’t be forgiven. It is hard when the other person doesn’t even acknowledge that they may have hurt us, but we still are called to freely forgive. God is the judge, and we are not, so let us leave the judgment up to Him and forgive, forgive, forgive.

Christianson gives an example when Corrie ten Boom met the nurse who had cruelly treated her sister when she was dying in a concentration camp by the Germans. Corrie’s first response was hatred and bitterness, but she confessed it to the Lord and asked forgiveness. She also invited the nurse to a meeting where she was speaking and afterwards led the nurse to the Lord. In a sense, both were set free. As we forgive unilaterally, we find it opens the door for God to deal with the other person’s heart. Let us be forgivers, not judges and leave the rest up to the Lord.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord if you have unforgiveness towards someone and unilaterally forgive.
Blessings on your week and prayers and love, Judy