Your Daily Crossroad
Should I Forgive?
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. (Colossians 3:13)
I arrived early at my church to help set up for an event. A woman stood crying at the opposite end of the sanctuary. She’d been cruel and gossiped about me in the past, so I quickly drowned out her sobs with a vacuum cleaner. Why should I care about someone who didn’t like me?
When the Holy Spirit reminded me how much God had forgiven me, I crossed the room. The woman shared that her baby had been in the hospital for months. We cried, embraced, and prayed for her daughter. After working through our differences, we’re now good friends.
In Matthew 18, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a king who decided to settle his accounts. A servant who owed a staggering amount of money pleaded for mercy. Soon after the king canceled his debt, that servant tracked down and condemned a man who owed him far less than what he’d owed the king. When word got back to the king, the wicked servant was imprisoned because of his own unforgiving spirit (vv. 23–34).
Choosing to forgive doesn’t condone sin, excuse the wrongs done to us, or minimize our hurts. Offering forgiveness simply frees us to enjoy God’s undeserved gift of mercy, as we invite Him to accomplish beautiful works of peace-restoring grace in our lives and our relationships.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 18:23-35
Love: Displayed More Than Defined
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Can you come up with a definition for love (that accurately describes what love is) in two or three sentences?
It’s not an easy task. No matter how we define love, our definition always seems to be lacking. Trying to define love can be like describing chocolate to a tribesman in sub-Saharan Africa who has never heard of nor tasted chocolate before. We may have trouble defining it, explaining it, and even finding it, but we know deep down inside that we need it.
In 1 Corinthians 13, the Apostle Paul wrote one of the most famous descriptions of love. Notice that he does not give a dictionary definition but instead a description of love displayed.The love Paul describes values:
-Commitment over feelings
The scripture is clear. You can see this love displayed in patience, kindness, humility, forgiveness, integrity, and ongoing perseverance. This kind of love survives and stands the tests of time and tribulations.
Does this describe the love you’re seeking? More importantly, does this describe the love your sharing?
When I read this today it caused me to stop and ask myself, does this describe the love I’m sharing all the time, every day? Take a moment today and ask yourself that very question. We have been called to love by being patient, showing kindness, humility, forgiveness, integrity, and ongoing perseverance. I don’t know about you but I needed this today, Thank You Lord!
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Unlighted Paths
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (Joshua 1:9)
After Moses’s death, Joshua inherited leadership of the Israelites and was charged to take God’s chosen people into the Promised Land. Despite his divine commission, Joshua must have felt challenged by the daunting nature of his task. God graciously offered Joshua assurance to be with him on the journey ahead (Josh. 1:9).
The road of life often travels through uncharted territory. We voyage through seasons when the path ahead isn’t clearly visible. God’s plan may not always be apparent to us, but He has promised to be with us “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20). What greater assurance could we hope for, no matter what uncertainty or challenge we might face? Even when the path is unlit, the Light is with us.
Lord, thank You for being near me even when I cannot see You. Please comfort me with Your presence. Amen.
When I read this I couldn’t help but think of a recent conversation I had with someone. They said, I don’t understand why God has me here, there is nothing here for me or my family, I don’t understand why. What truth comes from this devotion today, no matter what uncertainty or challenge we are facing, even when the path is unlit and we can’t see the purpose or reason and the path ahead isn’t clearly visible we must never forget, the Light is always with us and His plan and purpose is beyond our understanding or comprehension, our job is to be obedient and find the good in our current situation despite how dark it may look, remember always, The Light is with you. Trust Him and be faithful, even in times of complete darkness. Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Joshua 1:1-9
Prepare the Child
A phrase on many parenting websites says, “Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.” Instead of trying to remove all obstacles and pave the way for the children in our life, we should instead equip them to deal with the difficulties they encounter on the road ahead.
The psalmist wrote, “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. He decreed statutes . . . ,which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children . . . who should arise and declare them to their children” (Ps. 78:4–6). The goal is that “they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments” (v. 7).
Think of the powerful spiritual impact others had on us through what they said and how they lived. Their conversation and demonstration captured our attention and kindled a fire in us to follow Jesus just as they did.
It’s a wonderful privilege and responsibility to share God’s Word and His plan for our lives with the next generation and the generations to come. No matter what lies ahead on their road through life, we want them to be prepared and equipped to face it in the strength of the Lord.
Father in heaven, we seek Your wisdom and guidance to prepare the children we know and love to walk with You in faith. Amen.
When I recently read this I felt it’s a subject that needs to be taught more often, followed by action. I believe this is for everyone, with or without children, it’s our responsibility as adults to set the example through conversation and demonstration, we must help prepare children to follow the Lord on the road ahead. They are watching, they are listening and they are living what they see. Let’s be bigger than ourselves and set an example for the future generation. My prayer is that I myself be a better example today to follow than I was yesterday, for my children and to those children in my life whom I have an impact on.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 78:1-8