FORGIVENESS
Today’s Reading: Mark 11
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
These steps at the southern entrance of the Temple Mount once led into the Court of the Gentiles. You can still see the Triple Gate archways that were bricked over. These main gates to the Temple were called the Hulda Gates. An impressive staircase was added to enable the thousands of pilgrims to walk into the Temple.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, Click HERE.
Key Verse: Mark 11:26
…But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.
In the first 10 verses, Jesus meticulously fulfills prophecy (Zechariah 9:9 & Psalm 118:26). He then follows up by communicating His authority over nature, the fig tree, and over the activities surrounding the worship of God in the Temple. Mark concludes this chapter by quoting the religious leaders saying, “We do not know” (verse 33). Their biggest concern seemed to be the politics of the day. The core message of this passage concerns FORGIVENESS. This has eternal importance for each of us. Unforgiveness blocks the forgiveness we all need from God. Jesus warns us in a most forceful way. This is one truth that we MUST RECEIVE and ACT UPON TODAY! (How about every day?)
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I ask for grace to forgive others and the grace to accept the forgiveness offered to me by others. Having done this, I am confident that as I ask for Your forgiveness for my sins against You, Lord God, You forgive me. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I can’t help but refer again to my minister Dad. He described some religious leaders of Jesus’ day, and often today also, with this couplet: “They wobble in and wobble out, and leave the people all in doubt.” The “we do not know” answer to a question about the great prophet John the Baptist is not acceptable. Immediately after our marriage (almost 58 years ago), Norma-Jean and I accepted the call to pastor a congregation in Brighton, Ontario. We had lots of sports for our youth, and it came to my ears that a neighbouring pastor had called our Church, “The Brighton Sports Centre.” I was hurt by this and to my shame I nursed a grudge until the Holy Spirit pushed me to go to this pastor and to ask his forgiveness for not forgiving him. He didn’t even know that I knew what he had said. I was forgiven, but, as far as I knew, he continued to believe that sports were not right for the activities of a pastor and church. I had to let it go. Nevertheless, several teenagers came to know Jesus as a direct result of the friendships developed through sports.
Yours because of “forgiveness,”
David
Hi David
We attend that church right now and the pastor plays hockey with us which has led to inviting the men we play hockey with to our men’s breakfast and some neat opportunities of sharing the gospel with those who would never think of entering a “church”. As far as I know we are to go in all the world and share the good news. God bless you David and keep you strong. Thanks for rising early and preparing this blog.
Andy
Wow, that is awesome. So glad you let David know this. I’m sure he will have a smile on his face after reading your post just as I had on mine. David your sports time did not go unheeded. Blessings to all this morning.
Amen it is so refreshing to hear of activities and the friendship of sports activities that lead people to the church, fellowship, and Jesus. We need more of this in our upside down world.
Thanks for that message, David. It is interesting, the grudges we so easily carry, when our memories fail to forget specific details of faults and follies from the past. Why do we hold to such insignificant things that bind us rather than be free in the Spirit of the Lord? We bring everything that hasn’t been set right before You God, with all humility–and we lay it down. We forgive and ask that we be forgiven, before Your almighty throne. For what are we without You and Your amazing grace? Amen. Blessings dear saints in the Lord.
“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings…As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Psalm 17:8,15 KJV
Behold our God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th2sCzuzqTg
Thank you for your message this morning David as it speaks to my heart. God bless you everyone.
Amen Beverlee.
Geraldine I answered you last night, in case you didn’t see it, I was asking for prayer for my 12 year old granddaughter in Texas. As of 7am this morning she is having a op for curvature of the spine,. Please Pray for her, my daughter and the family. Thank you for this blog Pastor David, your thoughts this day and everyday day.
God Bless all. Eleanor M.
Wonderful worship, “Behold Our God”. Thank you, Beverlee. Praying for the surgery of the girl with curvature of spine (and family). May they be comforted by our Great Physician as He “stays closer than a brother” to them all. I am reading David’s book, “This Far By Faith”, and yesterday I reached into a collection of CDs that my sister has at the nursing home and I pulled out Ralph and Evelyn Rutledge’s “Celebration of Faith” that has “This Far by Faith” – same name! I would sure like to replace this copy of that CD but so far I cannot find it.(it has scratches on it). Possibly it is no longer available. When Jesus road the colt down the road as people put their coats down on the path was an act of God. I remember seeing a demonstration of an evangelist showing a horse walking along but would avoid any such obstacle. It would step aside. They are fearful that there may be a drop (hole or obstacle) underneath so they won’t ordinarily walk on clothing or blankets.
David, as an early Christian i came to know Ruth and Don Strutt at Brighton Church. My future father and mother in law attended. Don continued a relationship to youth and in the 1970’s that was very important in Brighton. A sudden surge in youth suicides and a community on edge. Later on a devastating tornado. Work of grace and mercy continues. I cannot help but believe that Christ working through you touched lives. Thanks for your faithfulness and willingness to hear and discern other opinions. Glad God loves us all, one body many parts.
How freeing when we forgive and are forgiven…Thank You Jesus that You took all our sins and iniquities on the Cross of Calvary…and set us FREE…from religeousity into fellowship with You. I LOVE YOU LORD!!
Thank you David for honesty and humility!!
YES INDEED YES INDEED! TO FORGIVE, BE FORGIVEN!
A YOUNG BOY (16) AND 2 FRIENDS PURCHASED A VEHICLE, FIRST CAR WOW!
PICKED UP A 6 BEER PACK AND EACH PERSON DRANK 2 BEERS, THEY WERE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEW OLD CAR.
THIS NEW OLD CAR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND KILLED THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER CAR IMMEDIATELY!
YES, THE YOUNG DRIVER AND 3 FRIENDS WERE IN THE CAR THAT HIT THE OTHER CAR!
I WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE PERSON KILLED WAS MY DAD, I WAS STUNNED BECAUSE FOR DECADES I WAS CONVINCED THAT MY DAD WOULD HIT AND KILL SOMEONE BECAUSE HE DRANK AND DROVE……
2 DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I WENT OVER TO THIS YOUNG BOY’S HOME AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO HIM; HIS PARENTS WERE NOT VERY HAPPY TO SEE ME BUT I STOOD MY GROUND AND ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE YOUNG BOY….
I TOOK HIM AROUND THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AND I TOLD HIM I FORGAVE HIM FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND I SHARED ABOUT MY DAD’S PROBLEM WITH ALCHOL! THIS YOUNG MAN CLUNG TO ME AND SOBBED, WE BOTH SOBBED, I MADE SURE HE HEARD ME “I FORGIVE YOU”
MY MOTHER NEVER FORGAVE ME.THAT WAS OK, I KNEW I HAD TO FORGIVE THIS YOUNG BOY! THAT WAS IT! OVER, JUST GO TO THE FUNERAL AND GRIEVE THE LOSS OF MY DAD!
6 MONTHS LATER THE YOUNG BOY TOOK HIS LIFE! THAT WAS VERY SAD BUT I WAS SO THANKFUL THAT I HAD SPOKE THOSE WORDS TO HIM ‘” I FORGIVE YOU”
WE NEVER KNOW WHAT OUR DAILY LIVES CAN LOOK LIKE!
I STILL MISS MY DAD HOWEVER I HAVE NEVER REGRETTED SPEAKING THE WORDS OF FORGIVENESS TO THE YOUNG PERSON!
IF ANYONE IS STRUGGLING WITH FORGIVENESS PLEASE SHARE MY STORY!
Powerful….thank you Sah
Amen! to all reply’s.
Just want to thank you for the beautiful pictures that accompany your messages which are a wonderful memory of a month in Israel many years ago.
Thank you for 100 words. JK.
I totally understand when people screw up their noses at the mention of churches! In my personal experience whenever I have had some serious issues (which is normal living in a sinful world) I found the last place I would go for help was the church! Members were so judgmental! so incredibly stupid and narrow-minded!
I cannot even begin to understand a Pastor saying that “sports were not right for a pastor and church” Unbelievable!!!!!!
I am blessed I have a very nice Christian Pastor! He is very personable and understands the issues we may have and prays and will give wisdom and most of all, he loves his congregation, He’s a wonderful dad and husband and a good friend, he has a good sense of humour!
I have always said if people want to know what sinners look like, go to church! That’s where sinners belong, at the foot of the cross, listening and worshipping the Triune God!
Please pray for all the residents of Fort McMurray! May God’s presence be felt throughout the community! May young and old; rich or poor; employed, non-employed; all the medical staff; Christians come together and reach out and hug people, pray together; come together and cook together and feed each other not only with food but with encouraging words! Stuff can be replaced! There just can never be enough love and compassion for each other. May God move in the hearts of big business in this community!
I pray God will reveal the silver linings to Fort McMurray! And there are many!
Come together and let us pray and worship our Lord God, the Triune God, Our Heavenly Father! He knows all! He is calling all people to turn to Him for eternal life! The picture of Jesus at the door,the handle is on our side!
Blessings to all……
Thank you Eleanor for your reply and I pray that your granddaughter has come through the operation well and will heal well. Also pray for strength and comfort for the whole family in Jesus Name. Amen! God bless you Eleanor. Thank you Sah for sharing your heart.
Wonderful comments from all the bloggers. Rev. Mainse great thoughts into forgiveness. I find many people are just too proud to forgive. Pride can hurt many relationships. Thank you Sah for your candour and honesty about your p father. I pray for complete healing after surgery for your granddaughter Eleanor. In Jesus name Amen and Amen. Growing up in Montreal I often played sports on a Friday night at the church then had a short lesson or prayer before ending the evening. It was a great time for friendship.
Happy Birthday to you and tomorrow to Norma Jean
You both have been such a blessing to so many people and your focus
is truly on the Lord Jesus and his saving grace for every person in this
world
Blessings to you and your family, may God bless each of you richly
Joyce D