Recent Blog Entries
-
In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! I AM! Don't be afraid." Peter answered him and said... -
Anchor of the Soul from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo. When people lose hope, they lie down and die. They lose the will to live and fight any longer. Hopelessness is utter despair, the belief that nothing good will happen. When you begin to think like this, it will bring a desire to die. A ...
-
The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, But their heart is far f...
-
- led by Lynn BrownThis is a group for RHM sponsored events like corporate fasts. Everyone is welcome to join and participate in things currently going on in the ministry. We love you and thank you for being a part of Refreshing Hope!
The Mercy Seat
-
Then his lord called him in, and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt, because you begged me. Shouldn't you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?' His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors, until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don't each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds. Matthew 18:32 WEB
Mercy is compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Basically, it is not punishing them, even though they deserve it, even when they have really earned it, and it is well within your power to make them pay for it. It is turning the other cheek, when you would like to slap theirs.
Someone hurt me very badly once and I had to forgive them every day for a few years. Anytime that it came to mind, I forgave them again until one day, it no longer bothered me and I no longer thought about it. This one took a long time. Each time they came to mind I would say 'Father, I forgive them for what they did.' Eventually, it became real and I no longer comforted myself by thinking of their demise like Esau did with Jacob (Genesis 27:42).
Sitting right on top of the Ark of the Covenant was the mercy seat (Exodus 25:21). That is where God spoke from. Mercy is a big thing to the Lord and all through out the Bible you read about it. The Lord promises us that if we will show mercy, we will in turn be shown mercy (Matthew 5:7). It is an amazing promise and it allows us to choose what will happen to us in the future. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Forgiveness does not make you a doormat, and repeat offenders need to be dealt with in a peaceful manner. Who we allow to be a part of our lives is a choice that we make. Some people belong on this side of our door, others should be outside of it, with the door locked. Forgiveness does not mean that you are weak. It is a calculated, intelligent choice to recognize that someone deserves punishment, but so do we all.
God Almighty who created the universe, all powerful, holds our very life in His hands and can take it away instantly. He shows us mercy by forgiving us of our mistakes, but He did say that we have to forgive others, or that we would not be forgiven. Keep a clean slate. If you get the chance today to let someone off the hook, then do so for the Lord will reward you by letting you off yours.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I choose to forgive those that have wronged me. I loose them and let them go free. I choose to show them mercy today because You told us to. Please forgive me of my own sins and set me free from the chains that bind me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: For those following our Creation Photographers group, here is the theme of the week: 2 Samuel 12:3 "but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him." This week's fun theme will be 'Our Furry & Feathered Friends' and is open for interpretation so have fun and be creative! Show us your pets, past, present, and temporary, from fur babies to caterpillars! My photos this week (in the group) reflect our temporary friend, mother hawk nesting. So fun birding and watching our feathered friends grow all season. Have a blessed week everyone! Here is the link: Creation Photographers> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
Tip: You must be logged into the website to leave comments.
Amen! When you realize the forgiveness you have recieved, that is what your Hevenly Father expects of you.
Amen Good Morning
Amen!!
A Good Word Pastor Dion! , Amen!
Amen.
Amen!! A very good message! I needed this!
Amen!
We forgive others who have hurt us,please Jesus forgive us. Amen.
Amen l needed this too it is very hard at times for family can make you feel like you are a door mat
Heavenly Father I choose to forgive those that have wronged me. I loose them and let them go free. I choose to show them mercy today because You told us to. Please forgive me of my own sins and set me free from the chains that bind me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. A timely message for me, thanks Pastor Dion!
Thank you for this! I have been trying to forgive someone for a few years now. I am going to take your advice & say "Father I forgive them for what they did." I will say this for as long as it takes. It must be a theme today because I found the subject of "forgiveness" on so many devotionals. Do you think the LORD is trying to tell me something? God bless you!
Dear Father, help me to forgive those whom have wronged me. I forgive them as You have forgiven me, I wait on You oh Lord. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Thank you Pastor, great message to follow. God bless you.
I love this word but I am confused by it, too. You talk about how the Lord wants us to forgive, and I understand that perfectly, but then you wrote, "Who we allow to be a part of our lives is a choice that we make. Some people belong on this side of our door, others should be outside of it, with the door locked."
If we keep others outside of the door with the door locked, how is that forgiving? That seems to be an antithesis of this entire message. That is extremely confusing to me. Why would I keep others outside the door with it locked? How is that having a spirit of reconcilliation? How does that fit in with your message of forgiveness?
Would you let the devil in? Even if you forgave him? Knowing he would attack again, of course Not! Pastors point is to forgive the offense. That doesnt mean ipen the door for more of it. I think you might have missed the point he was making. God will forgive our offenses if we ask for forgiveness, he also asks expects us to forgive others for their offenses, that doesn’t mean to open yourself up to more offenses from them, herein lies the choice you see. Sometimes foriveness is for us so we can move on, other times its opens the door for healing with a person who is sincere perhaps for commiting an offense or wronged you. To sum up, dont hold on to the bitterness, forgive and move on. Sometimes that is a loved one...
Well said, Perry :)! Sherri, I understand your confusion, but think of it this way - in a literal sense, would you allow any person in the world through your door and live in your house? We personally know people who would likely rob us overnight, while we slept. These are people we try to be kind to, feed them when the occasion arises and help if it's right to do so. We do not proactively do them harm, though they may have done so to us - they are forgiven so bitterness doesn't live in us. Giving them a greater place in our life, however, adds a toxic presence to us and enables destructive behavior for them. In short, forgiveness and love are not the same as trust, and trust that has been broken may require some boundaries till it is repaired.
Thank you, Sylvia; that does help; however, our pastor says we are to always be ready for reconcilliation, and that if Jesus expects us to forgive 70 x7, as is in Matthew 18:21-22, then that means we are to never give up on anyone and we are to treat them as though they have done nothing to us. If we don't allow them back in our circle, then that's not treating them as though they haven't done anything to us. This has been hard for me to do, because I, like eveyone else, have had people who have wronged me, but it is my belief from what I've been taught that I am to forgive them and treat them as though they've never offended me ... because that's what Jesus would do.
Hi again, Sheri :)! Well, I think the difference we are thinking of is that there are people who have actually repented, and those who have...not ;). True repentance will be reflected in action, and not just by the occasional words. When I was referring to people who would steal from us, I'm not talking figuratively, but of those who have done this and continue to do so, even as recently as last week. Perhaps one may think of this "circle" idea as not one circle, but a series of concentric circles. As with most people, there may be an inner circle of people who we would trust with more than with other friends and family, and even more than casual acquaintances. Even Jesus had an inner circle that excluded others. I don't think forgiveness brings any obligation to bring those who have betrayed trust further in than those who have not, but others are free to disagree :).
Amen! Thank you Pastor Dion, this message is for me! There were some people in my life that really hurt me, but the greatest hurt or pain came from the closest loved one who carried me for 9 months! I'll not go into details, but the forgiving was almost an ongoing process, and when I found a card with a written message to me from my Mom after she had passed away, it broke my heart, and it showed me that I was in her heart after all and that she loved me! It is by the grace of God that I was able to forgive, but I still have a hard time to forget ... To forgive is to forget and to remember it no more, which is easier said than done, but I know that the Lord knows my heart and I will be able to forget as well with His help and guidance! Again, thank you Pastor Dion, may the Lord bless you and Sylvia abundantly!!! I'm so glad to be part of your ministry, you are such a blessing and help to me!
That is such a blessing that the Lord let you see that card, Liesel <3! Praying for you, my sister!!!
Amen!