Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria Grace for Living Devotional Sunday May 5, 2024

 

Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria 

Grace for Living Devotional 

Sunday May 5, 2024

TOPIC: OVER MY DEAD BODY

BIBLE READING:

MATTHEW 6:12-15

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.  

KEY VERSE:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:15  

MEDITATION:

Ever heard the phrase, “over my dead body” Very likely, I can bet!  

Some years back, at the Church-in-Council meeting of my church, and during the question and answer session, a brother asked, “suppose you are seriously sick and need blood transfusion, will you be willing to accept blood donated by someone that you know hates you and your family, but is willing to donate blood to save your life” Many brethren answered, oh yes, surely! But a particular elder retorted very angrily, “over my dead body! I better close my eyes and die!” The lead pastor interjected and quoted today’s key verse. The elder stood his ground and said, “it will be like receiving the blood of a treacherous person into your blood system!”  

Before you condemn the elder, aren’t many of us also guilty of keeping malice and speaking unkind words because someone offended or hurt us One day in church, while I led and prepared everyone to give offerings for the day, I said, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). There was a palpable silence in the congregation.  

Often times, people can be so mean, not willing to accept they offended someone, yet we have to forgive, because the unforgiving have no place in heaven and pray in vain.  

Why do many find it difficult to forgive?     

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, heal my stubborn heart of unforgiveness.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:

1 Kings 12-13; Luke 24:36-53