Grudges, Smudges – Weekly Devotional – Week 9, 2006

Scripture: “You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 NLT

Application: Forgiving another for something they “did” to us can be difficult. Think about the time someone did something to you, how long did it take for you to forgive them? How about when you did something to upset someone else, how long did it take for them to forgive you? Or is there someone whom you still have not forgiven. Holding a grudge can turn into bitterness. This bitterness then hardens our heart to developing new relationships or repairing past ones. It keeps us from living a full life, full of God’s love, full of love for one another. These grudges can also lead to us developing cliques that exclude those who have “wronged” us in some way. As we allow these grudges to multiply, pretty soon we are lonely. God’s love for us is so deep and so consuming that He gave us His only son to wipe away our sins. This was the ultimate sacrifice given to forgive our faults and offenses against others and God. This was an amazing gift that was given to us-did we deserve it? - have we earned it? – no, but God did so just the same. Now is your chance to provide that same grace to others. Forgive and forget and smudge out the grudges you’re holding onto.

Quote: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Prayer: God, grant me the courage to forgive those who have harmed me in some way. Take the bitterness that has resulted from me holding this grudge away as well. Wipe my heart clean of any anger that I may hold for them and any hurt that lingers. Help me to be willing to forgive and forget those who may “wrong” me in the future. Thank you for your gift of forgiveness given to me through the sacrifice of your son and remind me daily of the significance of this gift in my life. Amen.