INTRODUCTION

Why should we forgive others? At first, we might think we ought to do so out of the goodness of our heart. But, there must be a deeper and more foundational reason for our forgiveness. Fundamentally, our forgiveness should be centered on the Lord and His forgiveness. According to Ephesians 4:32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
See All..., we forgive because we have been forgiven. But a careful look will show that God forgave us "for Christ’s sake." If God forgave us "for Christ’s sake," what should be the basis of our forgiveness of others? John confirmed this foundational truth of God’s forgiveness in his first epistle when he said, ". . . your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake" (1 John 2:12I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.
See All...). When we forgive others, we do so "for Christ’s sake." Our forgiveness of others yields a glorious testimony to the mercy of our God.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For smaller children) Jesus told a story about a servant who owed someone money but was completely forgiven of that debt. When someone owed the servant money, he did not forgive but demanded the money. That was not right (see Matthew 18:32-33 [32] Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: [33] Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
  See All... and Colossians 3:13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
  See All...).
• How can we tell others about God’s mercy in forgiveness when we will not forgive them for times that they have done wrong against us? What kind of testimony does this present?
• What does it mean to forgive "for Christ’s sake"? Should we forgive because we feel like forgiving? What if we do not feel like forgiving someone?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Thank God for His forgiveness.
• Ask the Lord to help you forgive “for Christ’s sake.”

HYMN

Have I Done My Best for Jesus?

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