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Transcript

Forgive the Person, Not Their Actions · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: In today's verse 15, we continue our weeklong focus on forgiveness by looking at the idea of separating out our forgiveness of the person from their actions.
• 0:15
  [SPEAKER_00]: It's often our failure to do this separation that keeps us from engaging in the life-giving command to forgive.
• 0:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: But God has wisdom and revelation for us today as we look at His Word and freedom for our hearts today if we'll engage with Him in prayer.
• 0:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: May you find newfound freedom from the weight of unforgiveness today.
• 0:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 1:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from John 1334, Scripture says, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.
• 1:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
• 1:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most important distinctions to make when learning about the practice of forgiveness is to forgive the person, not their actions.
• 1:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: Playing the sequence of someone's wrongful action over and over again in the mind is a terrible hindrance to obeying God's command to forgive.
• 1:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we continually reflect on how wrong an action was, our thoughts act as a blockade between our heart and God's heavenly compassion.
• 2:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: John 1334 tells us, a new commandment I give to you that you love one another.
• 2:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
• 2:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: God forgives us because He loves us, not because our actions are ever worthy of forgiveness.
• 2:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: He forgives us because He values restored relationship with us over our sins.
• 2:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: He forgives us because He is filled with love for us, not because our acts of confession demand forgiveness from Him.
• 2:34
  [SPEAKER_00]: And He says, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
• 2:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: When Peter denied Jesus three times, he offered him relationship and another opportunity to serve him.
• 2:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: When Thomas was filled with doubt, Jesus offered him his nail pierced hands.
• 2:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: And when we sin against God, he offers us forgiveness that we might receive the full depth of his love again.
• 3:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: Luke 6, verse 37, says, Judge not, and you will not be judged.
• 3:10
  [SPEAKER_00]: Condemn not, and you will not be condemned.
• 3:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
• 3:19
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our job is not to judge or condemn the actions of another.
• 3:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: The only one worthy of passing judgment is already seated on his throne.
• 3:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: God alone is perfect and able to offer sound judgment.
• 3:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: He alone carries the burden of being king of kings and lord of lords, and he continually chooses to show mercy and compassion on the undeserving.
• 3:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: He continually offers forgiveness to the unworthy and sinful.
• 3:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: He continually runs out to meet us in our sin, like the father of the prodigal son.
• 3:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Showing compassion for the wrongful actions of another is not easy, but it is necessary.
• 4:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: If we are to live a lifestyle of continual forgiveness the way God commands, we must look to the heart of the person and receive God's compassion rather than taking up the seat of judgment.
• 4:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: If we are to love one another as God has loved us, we must value relationship overworldly justice and give grace where none is deserved.
• 4:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: May we obtain access to the heart of our Heavenly Father today as we seek to love as he loves.
• 4:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: May we be filled with compassion for others after reflection on the overwhelming grace we've been shown.
• 4:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: And may we be filled with courage and strength to reach past a wrongful action and forgive the person from our hearts.
• 5:25
  [SPEAKER_00]: Begin by meditating on God's command to judge not.
• 5:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: Allow scripture to renew your mind to the important command to forgive others.
• 5:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Luke 6, 37 says, judge not and you will not be judged.
• 5:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: Condemn not and you will not be condemned.
• 5:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: Forgive and you will be forgiven.
• 6:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: And next, what action has been deemed unforgivable in your mind?
• 6:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Where are you struggling to forgive a person because of the way they've wronged you?
• 6:56
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 7:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: And now, ask God to give you the ability to look past a wrongful action to the heart of the person, so that you might have compassion and offer forgiveness.
• 7:30
  [SPEAKER_00]: spend time in his presence, removing yourself from the seat of judgment so that you can offer grace and forgiveness.
• 7:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 103 verses 10 through 14 says, He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our inequities.
• 7:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him.
• 7:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
• 8:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
• 8:11
  [SPEAKER_00]: For he knows our frame, he remembers that we are dust.
• 8:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we offer forgiveness where none is deserved, we are placing our hope for justice and reconciliation in God rather than ourselves.
• 9:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: When we offer mercy, we look to heaven for all things to be set right and renewed rather than looking to this fallen and a folly-filled world.
• 9:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is no perfection in this world.
• 9:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is nothing we can do to completely rid this world of its inherent depravity.
• 9:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: So we must look to our heavenly father to work and heal as he wills and follow in his footsteps.
• 9:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: We must carry an atmosphere of grace so that heaven can meet Earth through our lives and draw people into the fold of God.
• 9:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: May we have the strength and perspective to place our hope in heaven and offer mercy, compassion and forgiveness to the wrongful, destitute and proud.
• 10:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: And thanks so much for listening to today's podcast, I'm Josh with First 15.
• 10:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: If you feel the freedom and courage from separating a person from his or her actions to finally forgive, I want to encourage you to take hold of that courage right now and do it.
• 10:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: Initiate a conversation with them that you might finally rid yourself of this weight of unforgiveness.
• 10:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: No matter how difficult the conversation, it will be worth it.
• 10:45
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.