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The Nature of Forgiveness is Mercy · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: offering forgiveness to others is one of the most difficult and important aspects of the Christian life.
• 0:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: But Scripture clearly commands us to forgive others.
• 0:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: In this week's verse 15, we're going to look at how God longs to fashion us into His likeness, that we might model the love we've been shown to a world with no concept of mercy.
• 0:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: May you be filled with courage and boldness this week to offer forgiveness to those in desperate need of grace and may God's love shine through you as you enter into your calling as a minister of reconciliation.
• 0:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 0:57
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you for watching.
• 1:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Luke 6, verses 36, through 37, Scripture says, be merciful, even as your father is merciful.
• 1:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: Judge not, and you will not be judged, condemn not, and you will not be condemned, forgive, and you will be forgiven.
• 1:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: We would be holy lost if it weren't for the abundant mercy of our Heavenly Father.
• 1:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 3 verses 23 through 24 says, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
• 2:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: We are offered total and complete forgiveness of our sins, because God loves us and has mercy on us.
• 2:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: The mercy of God, a lot's us freedom and restored relationship we could never attain on our own.
• 2:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: We are not justified by our own works or inherent worth, but by grace alone.
• 2:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: The nature of forgiveness is mercy.
• 2:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: And the Bible tells us in Luke 6, verses 36 through 37, be merciful, even as your father is merciful.
• 2:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Judge not, and you will not be judged.
• 2:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Condemn not, and you will not be condemned.
• 2:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
• 2:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: In order for us to be merciful with others, we must be consistently encountering and reflecting on the abundant mercy of God toward us.
• 2:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we were at our lowest, God met us and offered us eternal, abundant life in Him.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we had no ability to attain right standing before our Creator, he brought Himself low, took on the form of a servant and died for our saints.
• 3:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: You were saved by the greatest act of mercy the world will ever know.
• 3:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now your Heavenly Father is asking you to share the great mercy you have been shown.
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's asking you to live and operate in His likeness by loving others the way you have been loved.
• 3:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible commands us to forgive others.
• 3:42
  [SPEAKER_00]: God doesn't give us the option.
• 3:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians 313 says, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
• 3:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: James 213 says, for judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Mercy triumphs over judgment.
• 4:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: If we are living with unforgiveness, we are living outside the will of God.
• 4:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: God knows forgiveness is difficult.
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: He knows that it takes courage and strength to offer mercy, where it is undeserved.
• 4:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: He paid the highest price for our sins by sending Jesus to an undiserving, gruesome death.
• 4:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: but he also knows the joy that comes from reconciliation.
• 4:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: He knows the goodness of wiping the slate clean that he might have restored relationship with us.
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And he longs for you to be a minister of reconciliation to all who have hurt you.
• 4:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to overwhelm you with his love and mercy to the degree that offering others mercy and love comes from a place of overflow, rather than your own strength.
• 5:02
  [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to fill you with courage and perspective so that you can forgive those who need a glimpse of his mercy and grace.
• 5:12
  [SPEAKER_00]: Take time as you enter into guided prayer to receive the love and mercy of your heavenly father.
• 5:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Allow him to fill you up to overflowing today and follow his guidance as he gives you grace to forgive others in obedience and love.
• 6:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on the forgiveness and mercy you have been shown in Christ, allow the compassion God has for you to fill you with compassion for others.
• 6:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God to give you His heart for others as you meditate on His Word.
• 6:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: Titus 3 verses 4 through 7 says, but when the goodness and loving kindness of our God and Savior appeared, He saved us.
• 6:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Not because of work's done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
• 6:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: So that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs, according to the hope of eternal life.
• 7:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now meditate on God's command for you to forgive others.
• 7:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: Make God's Word the foundation of your actions rather than your own desires or fears.
• 7:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: Take some time to reflect on the importance of living a lifestyle of forgiveness.
• 8:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians 313 says, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: And last, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any unforgiveness in your heart.
• 9:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whether the wound is large or small, you must engage in forgiveness for it to heal properly.
• 9:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God to give you courage to forgive today.
• 10:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Trusting and obeying God is foundational to experiencing the fullness of life Jesus died to give you.
• 10:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: God larks to lead you into his perfect plans.
• 10:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is always guiding and shepherding you to your best possible life, but he cannot lead you where you will not follow.
• 10:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: He cannot bless you if you are living outside of his will.
• 10:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: commit to following him wherever he leads, whether or not you feel like it or understand, allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into a lifestyle of continual forgiveness that you might experience to even greater depths the abundant life God longs to give.
• 11:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast.
• 11:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First of Team.
• 11:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: I want to encourage you today to take a practical step forward in whatever the Lord was doing in your heart today as you prayed.
• 11:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you need to ask for forgiveness or maybe you need to offer it.
• 11:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever your need is, may God fill you with the compassion and boldness you need to engage in this life-giving process and promise of forgiveness.
• 11:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day, and may God bless you as you see him.