Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 30 2024

Jesus teaches that if we forgive others when they sin against us, our Father in heaven will forgive us. But if we don't forgive others, God won't forgive us. This is an important message because God's forgiveness is a gift of grace, and we should extend that same grace to others. It's important to cleanse our hearts of bitterness and resentment each day. By showing love and forgiveness, we become more like Christ. Let's thank God for His grace and ask for help in extending that grace to others. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for January 30th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Matthew chapter 6 verses 14 through 15. But if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. This is a comment Jesus made right after he gave us the Lord's Prayer. When Jesus comments on his own teaching, we should pay close attention. God is perfectly willing to forgive us of all our sin, and this forgiveness is offered without any cost to us. It is a gift of God's grace. But God expects that having received his grace, we would extend the same grace toward others. Therefore, each of us should take some time each day to cleanse our hearts of any bitterness or resentment. We must forgive others the same way that God has forgiven us. The grace we show to others will be a blessing to them and also to us. It is a joyful thing to have a heart that is free of hatred and resentment. In showing love even to our enemies, we grow into the likeness of Christ. Your personal worship option today is, Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace you have shown me, forgiving me of all my sin. Help me extend the same grace to others. Let me do this for their benefit and also for my own, that my heart might be cleansed of all bitterness and become a beautiful place for your spirit to dwell. Amen.