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 in 1958, 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
Thank You, Father God, for being the fount of every blessing, for being our hiding place where we can rest and recover and be renewed for the challenges of each new day. Guide us in the decisions we make today, Lord, in Jesus’s name, amen
Amen Rob!!
Amen,Rob.Many people can’t let go of a grudge.They don’t realize that they are being held captive by that grudge.Forgiveness,without expectation,is the key to set yourself free.
Forgiveness
Forgiveness is a gift we receive,
And freely we must give it too,
To prove to Him we do believe,
Forgiveness also works for you.
When you forgive it then returns,
For your heart is then lightened
While given the freedom it yearns
And your mind is then enlightened.
Let His healing hand touch your soul,
Then may His love render you whole,
For Satan will try to collect a toll
If faith is weak you give control
But someone you may overlook
Is one you may be least kind to,
For mistaken paths that you took;
The one you forgive must be you.
GW (Bill) Marshall/2012
Amen
So many times our mistakes and sins teach us valuable lessons.If we do not learn from then then they are wasted and remain only ‘mistakes and sins’.Don’t let them drag you down where Satan can torment you with them.I know some who seem to think they are the ‘only sinners’ because they don’t usually see the sins of others.Everyone is a sinner so get back on your feet and do your best.Amen.
Forgive Myself
Does God ever make mistakes,
Does He regret where He has led
When each step His child takes
Dries up the blood His Son has shed.
Now I fear I am now lost,
When I try to do what is right,
For mistakes are the cost
But it’s His blood that wins my fight.
So forgive myself I must,
For,if not,then in vain He died
And I would yield His trust,
Then they could say my Savoir lied.
So get back upon your feet
And know Satan is a liar
Cast down in his defeat
To burn ever in hell fire.
No,God never makes mistakes,
But His ways are above our own,
So know,each child He makes
Is of the holy seed He’s sown.
(G.W.)Bill Marshall/23,June,2016
Hebrews 8 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
7 If there was nothing wrong with the first
agreement, then there would be no need for
a second agreement.
Thank you William on these two poems on forgiveness 🙏✝️
Amen thanks for both of your poems William.
Great truth in your poems, William. Thanks. Have a great day everyone. It’s expected to be very humid here. – well, it is August! Enjoy.
Thank you William for your poems that convey such important messages!
I want to acknowledge God’s goodness and faithfulness to me. I was faced with a problem this morning, and did not know what to do. (It had to do with my house and we might be looking at a very expensive repair). It was worrying me. I asked God to help me, as He promised to be a husband to the widow. Immediately after praying that prayer, my son came to me saying that he had found the source of the problem and there was an easy solution. Thank you Lord for being my helper!
I pray a blessing on each blogger.
Luisa you did the right thing by praying for help with your problem. Sometimes we forget when we are in a state of dismay. Praise the Lord oh my soul and all that is in me, Praise His Holy name.
Amen, Eleanor!
Thanks to ALL who prayed, spoke poetry, and shared this morning…..It is magnificent to know that HE hears and answers prayers, and that, in HiIM, we are all forgiven. ‘Praising GOD from Whom all Blessings flow.’ Thankful for HIS Mercy and Grace.
Doreen- hoping🙏🏽 that your friend’s son is improving in health and well-being.
Thanks Laur. I have just messaged her. She became ill herself so I’m waiting to hear. She recently moved to Northern Quebec so she has a big adjustment to make as well. Her family live on a reserve just north of her town. I pray that all is working out for her and that Michel is improving in hospital.