Ask for Forgiveness Often and Always - The Crosswalk Devotional - August 26
Ask for Forgiveness Often and Always
By Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy…” - Titus 3:4-5
In ministry, I’ve said and done things I wish I could take back. On a particularly bad day, I was dealing with some personal struggles, and a church member had asked to meet with me and my husband. As we met together, the church member took the opportunity to complain about the direction the church had taken. As she complained, I stopped her at one point because what she was saying was incorrect.
When I corrected her, she got a surprised look on her face, and she expressed that she was highly offended at the interruption. As she walked out, I knew she felt unheard and unappreciated. Unfortunately, I was too busy trying to be right rather than the right relationship. A few days later, the Holy Spirit convicted me. He wanted me to apologize. I didn't want to apologize. What I had said was correct theologically, but it more adhered to the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law.
Although Jesus wants us to correct others when their theology doesn't align with the truth in Scripture, he also wants us to love others and be slow to anger. In this situation, however, I had been much quicker to anger than I should have been.
I swallowed my pride and sent a text letting her know how sorry I was and that I hoped she could forgive me. Surprisingly enough, within a few minutes, I received a text back saying that she forgave me and that we were still on good terms.
The above verse reminds us that it is not by anything we do in our righteousness that earns us God's grace. Rather, it is in the moments of our weakness that God pours out His abundant grace and mercy upon our lives. In the moment when I asked for forgiveness, God poured out His grace and mercy over my quick and flippant response to this woman.
I had not loved her as Christ loved her, and he was asking me to make amends. Although it was difficult to apologize and ask for forgiveness, I was grateful that she was willing to accept it.
The gospel message is that Christ died to be the ultimate sacrifice for all our sins. These are all the sins we have committed and all that we ever will commit in this life. We can rest assured that simply by asking for his forgiveness, God is faithful to grant it. Just as we understand the weight of Christ’s death on the cross, we also need to offer forgiveness freely when someone asks for it. This demonstrates our understanding of the gospel message, both in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Take a moment to reflect on your relationships in life. Is there someone from whom you need to ask for forgiveness? How easy would it be for you to send a text, write a note, or call that person and ask for forgiveness? If the only thing standing between a reconciled relationship and a severed one is pride, God wants to remind us that He gives His grace and mercy to all of us, no matter what we've done.
Just as we receive God's grace and mercy simply because of Christ's death on the cross, we also need to extend and ask for forgiveness accordingly. We need to be reminded daily that all of us deserve death. But He took away our sins and replaced them with love, forgiveness, and, best of all, salvation.
Although it is not always possible, we must strive to live in peace with everyone. Although some people’s hearts are too hardened to reconcile appropriately, it is still vital that we reach out and try. It means suffering rejection and a continued broken relationship.
We can take solace in knowing that Christ is always there for us, and he's our friend. In the same way Christ has forgiven us for what we've done, we also need to forgive others. We also need to ask for forgiveness from those whom we have offended regularly.
Father, let us be people who ask for forgiveness often. Let us forsake our pride and our appearance and substitute it for the grace, love, and mercy of Jesus. Let us be a living example to you when we ask for forgiveness, even when we don't deserve it. Let our lives be the test of your glory in our lives. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Is there someone from whom you need to ask for forgiveness? What step can you take to do that?
Further Reading:
Matthew 18:22
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PeopleImages
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: Relapse, Trauma, and the Power of Community
Caroline Beidler still vividly remembers cracking open her first beer under a big oak tree. She was 11. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, host Jon Seidl sits down with Beidler—managing editor of recovery.com, author, and addiction recovery advocate—to explore her powerful story of childhood trauma, early addiction, spiritual awakening, relapse, and ultimate restoration through faith and community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
