ABIDE - DAY 20
True Love Forgives
Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.
Can you imagine how Peter must’ve felt seeing Jesus die on the cross knowing that the last thing he did was deny Him? He must’ve felt terrible! Thankfully the Bible says that “Love keeps no record of wrong” and our God truly loves us. After Peter denied Him not once, not twice, but three times, Jesus was crucified . After He rose from the grave He encountered the ladies at the tomb and He had very specific instructions for them: “go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He (Jesus) is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” (Mark 16:7)
He asked specifically for Peter…
Because true love covers a multitude of sin (1Peter4:7)
Let’s read:
John 21
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
This instance right here was a beautiful picture of the Father forgiving and restoring one of His children. It brings us to the whole point of todays devotion. True love forgives…
In order to walk in true forgiveness we have to be forgiving people! If Jesus can forgive one of His closest friends that denied Him in what would be His darkest hour, when one would think He needed him the most, how can we not forgive others that have wronged us?
Our Father is very serious about unforgiveness and the grip that it places on us! He wants us free. It’s why He gave His Son…
How can we, who have been forgiven, not forgive?
His love drove Him to forgive and created this place of ABIDING for us, we must do the same for others.
Ask Holy Spirit today to reveal anyone in your life that you need to forgive. If forgiveness feels to difficult for you just ask Him how, and then do what He says.
Agape love is unconcerned with the self and concerned with the greatest good of another. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return… It is completely unconditional.
Can you imagine how Peter must’ve felt seeing Jesus die on the cross knowing that the last thing he did was deny Him? He must’ve felt terrible! Thankfully the Bible says that “Love keeps no record of wrong” and our God truly loves us. After Peter denied Him not once, not twice, but three times, Jesus was crucified . After He rose from the grave He encountered the ladies at the tomb and He had very specific instructions for them: “go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He (Jesus) is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” (Mark 16:7)
He asked specifically for Peter…
Because true love covers a multitude of sin (1Peter4:7)
Let’s read:
John 21
15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
This instance right here was a beautiful picture of the Father forgiving and restoring one of His children. It brings us to the whole point of todays devotion. True love forgives…
In order to walk in true forgiveness we have to be forgiving people! If Jesus can forgive one of His closest friends that denied Him in what would be His darkest hour, when one would think He needed him the most, how can we not forgive others that have wronged us?
Our Father is very serious about unforgiveness and the grip that it places on us! He wants us free. It’s why He gave His Son…
How can we, who have been forgiven, not forgive?
His love drove Him to forgive and created this place of ABIDING for us, we must do the same for others.
Ask Holy Spirit today to reveal anyone in your life that you need to forgive. If forgiveness feels to difficult for you just ask Him how, and then do what He says.
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