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April 3
Forgiveness—An Act of Worship
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34, niv
If Jesus forgave those who nailed Him to the Cross, and if God forgives you and me, how can you withhold your forgiveness from someone else? How can you withhold your forgiveness from yourself? If God says, “I forgive you,” who are you to say, “Thank You, God, but I can’t forgive myself”? Are your standards higher than His? Are you more righteous than He is? If God says, “I forgive you,” then the only appropriate response is to say, “God, thank You. I don’t deserve it, but I accept it. And to express my gratitude, I, in turn, forgive that person who has sinned against me.”
We forgive others, not because they deserve it,but because He deserves it! The only reason we have to forgive is that He commands us to, and our obedience gives us opportunity to say to Him, “Thank You for forgiving me. I love You.” Our forgiveness of others then becomes an act of worship that we would not enter into except for Who He is and for the overwhelming debt of love we owe Him.
Just Give me Jesus, (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2000).
©2012 Anne Graham Lotz. All rights reserved.
THE KEY TO A LIFE OF IMPACT
What are the secrets to a life of impact? Daniel achieved greatness in the eyes of his contemporaries, in the eyes of history, and most importantly, in the eyes of God. His faith did not waver as he faced his critics, as he served new kings in power, or even as he confronted hungry lions. How can we achieve that kind of faith today? Twenty intentional, key choices made all the difference. Daniel’s choices can be ours, such as:
• The choice to listen
• The choice to forgive
• The choice to pray
Cultivate a life-changing faith when you learn to implement The Daniel Key into your everyday life. Request your copy!
For more from Anne Graham Lotz please visit AnneGrahamLotz.org.