This post is Day 28 in a series of studies about “A Living Sacrifice”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

Feel free to comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, you can do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

A Living Sacrifice – Day 28

People who do wrong have generally no idea that they are prompted by the devil. But those who forgive are often aware that it is through the example of Jesus and the support of Holy Spirit that we can forgive. Human attitudes are selfish. Forgiveness is not a natural inclination.

Romans 12:19

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

The Thought

Paul is quoting here from “The song of Moses” in his long farewell speech to the Israelites after he had led them on their forty year trek through the desert.

Deuteronomy 32:35-36 It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip, their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them. The Lord will vindicate His people.

One of the keys for living in peace with everyone (yesterday’s verse) is to make the concrete decision to forgive, no matter how serious the offence. Remember Jesus on the cross forgiving His persecutors, “because they don’t know what they are doing”!

People who do wrong have generally no idea that they are prompted by the devil. But those who choose to forgive are often aware that it is through Jesus’s example and the support of Holy Spirit that we can forgive. Human attitudes are selfish. Forgiveness is not a natural inclination of the human heart.

In the garden of Eden, Adam blamed Eve for offering him the fruit, there is no record of forgiveness afterwards. Their two sons Cain and Abel disputed and didn’t forgive, leading to the death of one of the first people on earth. Genesis 4:3-7

Action

Is it hard for you to not kick back when someone hurts you? (Or one of your family?)

In your prayers today ask God to show you if there is someone that you need to forgive.

Thank God for Jesus who forgave his murderers and left us the example of extreme forgiveness.

Spend some time singing praises to The One who is a perfect example and who has already forgiven you and me for all the wrong things we have been guilty of.