Forgiven, April 6, 2008

Forgiven, April 6, 2008

... as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Colossians 3:12-13, www.solascriptura.com

Father, it is so right to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control) and so wrong to be the opposite of these words. We do not need anyone to tell us when we are bearing bad fruit, those behaviors which are clearly not within Your will for our lives.

If we yield the fruits of the Holy Spirit, we will be as "sanctified", a posture we seek but which eludes us some of the time. Help us to be more consistent. We know, Jesus, that being like You, in our relationships, is Your desire for us. You equip us to do so when we ask. For Your forgiveness, we are grateful.

Help us today to be forgiving towards people just as you are constantly there for us, always forgiving. In Jesus' Holy name, we pray, amen.

Bruce Caldwell