July 27 - Forgive

Mark 11:20-25

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25 ESV)

Forgiveness is essential. Without it we remain dislodged from our intended relationship with God. Primarily we need to seek forgiveness from God himself, but we must also extend forgiveness to those that have wronged us. According to Jesus our willingness to forgive others actually in as the ability to interfere with the forgiveness God extends toward us.

It almost sounds backward to think that you cannot receive from God won't you are unwilling to first give away. That kind of thinking goes against my nature. Perhaps, however, that is because my very nature itself is in need of divine repair.

Like many things in the life lived for Christ, forgiveness is something that Jesus wants his followers to readily give away. It is not always easy. In fact, I think it almost never easy. When someone sins against you, it can be dreadful to let go of the pain and anguish that is often associated with that injustice.

Our act of willing forgiveness is powerful. By letting go of the ways by which we have been wronged we begin to experience freedom from our own sinfulness. Why? Because forgiveness is about learning to let go of our attachment to sin. When we are wronged it is easy to dwell on it, and when we have committed grievous sin it is easy for the enemy of our soul to use it against us.

The clear path is to let go. Extend grace to those that wrong you. Even as God offers grace to you. Forgive.

July 23 - Find the Colt

Mark 11:1-10

And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. (Mark 11:4 ESV)

As he was preparing to enter Jerusalem Jesus told some of his disciples to go and retrieve a colt for him to enter the city on. They obediently went ahead and discovered the colt just as he had said. They shared with the owners what Christ had said about the colt, promising to return it. It may seem like a small detail, the guys finding the colt as Jesus had instructed, but it was actually a big deal. Hundreds of years prior the Old Testament prophet Zechariah predicted that Jesus would do just that. Jesus knew the scriptures. He knew his time was drawing near. So he commanded his followers and in their obedience discovered everything to be just as he said it would.

You and I may not always realize it, but I believe that Jesus is still regularly pointing out things that he would have us do. Not because he is testing us, or because he likes to keep us busy with some kind of religious fluff, but because he wants to bring us in on what he is up to.

Sometimes in order to be a part of that we have to step out in faith and obedience. We have to follow the Word of God. We have listen for the voice of God. And when the time comes that He speaks, and instructs, we have to go ahead to where He has sent us. We have to find the colt.