FORGIVE

Transfiguration Sunday

GENESIS 50:17 (ABP)
So Joseph's brothers sent him a message after their father died. “Before his death, our father commanded us to tell you, ‘You must forgive your brothers’ sins—all of them. For they treated you with inexcusable contempt when they sold you into slavery.’ Will you honor the dying wish of your father and forgive the sins of these servants of your father’s God?”

EPHESIANS 4:32 (MSG)
Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

THE ESSENCE
Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

DAILY FODDER
Someone who has been deeply hurt needs to hear this word from God. Forgive the person who has wronged you. You don't need to embrace them as your best buddy but you need to let go of the crippling animosity that is building up. You can do this by focusing on how God has outrageously forgiven you through the actions of Christ Jesus. The power of forgiveness will begin to grow in you as you own the mercy that has been extended to you.

PRAYER
Merciful God, thank you for forgiving me. I admit, though, that I don't freely forgive those who have done me wrong. Help be to grow in awareness of the enormity of the forgiveness that comes our way through the sacrifice and victory of our Savior Jesus. I'm going to start forgiving the people who haven't treated me right. And I'm going to stick with the process of forgiveness, even if it takes me the rest of my life. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

THE GIFT OF PEACE

PSALM 97:10 (CEB)
Those of you who love the LORD, hate evil!
God guards the lives of his faithful ones,
delivering them from the power of the wicked.

ACTS 9:31 (GNT)
And so it was that the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had a time of peace. Through the help of the Holy Spirit it was strengthened and grew in numbers, as it lived in reverence for the Lord.

THE ESSENCE
We should see any peace we have as a gift from God. 

DAILY FODDER
God's way of doing things tends to disrupt societies, often causing turmoil. But he intervenes and we should acknowledge that any peace experienced by faithful followers of Jesus is a gift from God. 

PRAYER
Lord, thank you for making me yours. You guard me. May I bring your comfort and peace to all who need your protection. Today, use my hands as a sign of peace, a welcome embrace, so others may experience your faithfulness. Let my heart become a valentine for all you give me in your name. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

LIVING AS TAUGHT

1 SAMUEL 12:15 (MSG)
But if you don’t obey him and rebel against what he tells you, king or no king, you will fare no better than your fathers.

COLOSSIANS 2:6-7 (MSG)
My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you’ve been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You’re deeply rooted in him. You’re well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you’ve been taught. School’s out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

THE ESSENCE
Do what you’ve been taught.

DAILY FODDER
The ancient Hebrews described in 1 Samuel, had convinced themselves that if they had a king, like all their neighbors, that they'd become an unstoppable force. God didn't want them to function according to coventional wisdom but he eventually gave them what they wanted. And, of course, that didn't work out for their best. The point is that if we trust him and act according to his instructions, in the longrun things will work out in a way that generates thanksgiving rather than anxiety. 

PRAYER
Generous God, thank you for your instructions. Forgive us for pushing to be able to do things our way. Help me to start living according to all that I’ve  been taught. I'm looking forward to seeing what YOU'LL do. I'll break out in thanksgiving. Amen. 

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.

THE CHALLENGE OF SIN

ISAIAH 44:22 (MSG)
I’ve wiped the slate of all your wrongdoings.
There’s nothing left of your sins.
Come back to me, come back.
I’ve redeemed you.

1 JOHN 3:5-6 (MSG)
Surely you know that Christ showed up in order to get rid of sin. There is no sin in him, and sin is not part of his program. No one who lives deeply in Christ makes a practice of sin.

THE ESSENCE
Sinless Christ invites us to join him.

DAILY FODDER
While we don't wallow in our sinfulness, we are matter-of-fact about it. Such straightforwardness allows us to entrust it all to Christ, our redeemer.

PRAYER
Gracious Redeemer, you have removed the fog of my sinful ways. Forgive me when I turn back to that fog because it's familiar. Stop me from thinking that I just need better fog lights when I really need a whole new lighting system. Create in me a clean heart, O God, that makes your grace my light. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (ABP)
Our Father in Heaven,
     we hold your name in the highest regard.
Please come and establish your reign here on earth
     so that everything that happens here will align
     with what is happening in heaven.

Give us enough food for today.

Forgive us our wrongdoing,
     and we’ll forgive those who have wronged us.
Shield us from the trials and temptations that come our way.
Lastly, we pray that you will protect us from all forms of evil. Amen.