Tag: forgiveness

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: October 14, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Philemon

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Is there someone I need to forgive? God will give me the grace to do so. Philemon had an outstanding love for the Lord Jesus and for the saints of God. His love was a blessing to the church, and a cause for joy and thanksgiving to the heart of Paul. Because of their special friendship, Philemon had the privilege of being on Paul’s prayer list. It is a real honor to be on anyone’s prayer list, but especially a great prayer warrior like Paul. It should encourage us today to know that Jesus is praying for us. Paul knew how to pray for Philemon and how to best minister to him. He prayed that Philemon might know every good thing that is in us for the glory of Christ. Knowing the spiritual riches and abundant blessings of being made right with God leads to victorious living! Paul’s main reason for writing to Philemon was to restore a broken relationship. Onesimus had wronged Philemon and fled. His wrongful actions severed ties with Philemon but led him into the path of Paul. While in the company of Paul, Onesimus was saved. Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon so that the two men could be reconciled. Philemon needed God’s grace so that he might forgive the one who had wronged him. Maybe the purpose of Philemon’s hurt was so that Onesimus would be saved. Philemon verse 15 says, “For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever.” There may be many painful experiences that God’s people have to endure, but if those experiences further the Gospel then it will have been worth it all. Who knows but what something someone is going through today will lead to salvation.

Prayer: “Dear Jesus, help us to be peacemakers and to reconcile people to God. Help us to promote unity and fellowship among the saints and not tear friendships apart. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions: July 31, 2014

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is 2 Corinthians chapter 2

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” (2 Corinthians 2:11)
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church he challenged them to correct an erring member. In his second letter he admonished the Corinthians to forgive and restore their brother. Paul said, “You ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that you would confirm your love toward him.” (2 Corinthians 2:7-8)
Forgiveness is a gift from God that restores our fellowship. The Corinthian church confronted the sin of one of its members. Their actions led the sinning brother to realize his sin and repent. For the church to heal, there needed to be an act of forgiveness on their behalf. Satan loves to see God’s church torn apart. He gains an advantage over us when we are divided. Unforgiveness keeps God’s people separated and hinders fellowship. God tells us to love one another, and that love covers a multitude of sins. Paul said, “For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.” (2 Corinthians 2:15) It is a sweet savor when God’s people love one another.
We should be a sweet and pleasant odor to one another and to God. Don’t allow the bitter and unpleasant smell of unforgiveness to ruin your life. Let your life be a delightful fragrance to everyone you meet.

Prayer: “Heavenly Father, make us a sweet fragrance for Your glory. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is Acts chapter 10

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Cornelius was a Gentile who came to know the Lord as the Spirit brought a Gospel witness into his home. In Acts 1:8 Jesus told His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit and they would be witnesses unto Him. In Acts 10:39 Peter said, “And we are witnesses of all things which He did…” and in Acts 10:42 he said, “And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.” The disciples became witnesses just like Jesus said. Basically, Peter witnessed about Jesus to Cornelius and the Spirit of God fell on them as He did the believers at Pentecost. Non Jews are accepted into the family of God the same as Jews. God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to Him. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone! Rejoice in the Gospel of grace today that is going out to every nation and the forgiveness of sin that is available to all who call upon the name of Jesus Christ!

Prayer: “Lord, we rejoice in Your grace that You forgive sin and give Your Spirit to those who place their trust in Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 13

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Some years ago I was invited to preach Revival in a church that practiced foot washing services. Foot washing is a symbolic act of service first performed by Jesus as a ministry to His disciples. It teaches us humility and service and the need to minister to one another as believers. Foot washing is an act of love. It can best be pictured in the act of forgiveness. Jesus forgave our sins whenever we were saved. We were made clean by the power of Jesus blood. Our cleansing and salvation wasn’t anything we deserved, it was an act of God’s love and mercy. As we walk through this sinful world our feet may need washing. We must come to Jesus daily and confess our faults to experience His forgiveness. We must also forgive one another. Forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ is taught and commanded in Jesus illustration of foot washing. When we don’t forgive fellow believers our fellowship is broken. When fellowship is broken our prayers are hindered. When prayers are hindered we are ineffective and the devil has won. The devil fights dirty. His goal is to divide God’s people. The devil will whisper something to one believer and then whisper the opposite to another believer in an attempt to pit them against each other. Jesus taught us to resist the devil and to love and forgive one another. Is their someone in your church family that you need to wash their feet? To forgive is like washing someone else’s feet. You are not condoning their sin but instead you are declaring God’s grace. Forgiven people are able to forgive people. When we won’t forgive it is like drinking poison hoping someone else will die. It only hurts us. But when we forgive we are showing a spirit of servanthood displayed by Jesus Christ. Billy Graham said, “A servant is someone who helps another succeed.” How many times has Jesus washed your feet?

Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thank You for cleansing us of all sin. Help us to serve and forgive one another. Keep us in unity and sweet fellowship as the people of God so that our prayers are not hindered. Make us more like Jesus. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron

Daily Devotions

Daily Devotions

randymcpheron

Today’s Bible reading is John chapter 10

(Read the entire New Testament in 2014 by reading only one chapter each day)

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” In the Old Testament the sheep were sacrificed for the shepherd, but when Jesus came He was the Good Shepherd who was sacrificed for His sheep. The Good Shepherd agonized a grueling death on the cross in order to pay the sin debt. He fully met all the righteous requirements of Holy God to be the one sacrifice for sin forever. You see without the shedding of blood there would be no remission of sin. It required Jesus dying in our place to satisfy the sin debt. No one took His life from Him but He freely gave it up for all. He could have called ten thousand angels but instead He chose to die for you and me. “His hands were nail pierced, His side was riven, He gave His life’s blood for you and me. Oh what a Savior! Oh hallelujah!” The cross was a symbol of shame, but when Jesus was crucified it became a glorious cross! The crucified, buried, and risen Savior stands before us now and proclaims, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me.” To become a follower of Jesus we must identify with His cross, die to self and live in surrender to Him.

Prayer: “We thank You for the cross upon which the precious Savior died. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Randy J. McPheron