WEBVTT 00:04.316 --> 00:10.939 [SPEAKER_00]: In today's verse 15, we're going to look at the role of forgiveness and putting our love into action. 00:12.159 --> 00:16.141 [SPEAKER_00]: In God, we have forgiveness for every sin we can commit. 00:17.062 --> 00:23.965 [SPEAKER_00]: And that forgiveness not only washes us clean, but empowers us to become like our great forgiver. 00:25.245 --> 00:41.555 [SPEAKER_00]: Every day, we're wronged in some way, and every day is an opportunity to show others for given us, not because they deserve it, but because loving forgiveness is the way of our good shepherd, the author and founder of our faith. 00:42.556 --> 00:45.678 [SPEAKER_00]: May God empower us to forgive as he does today. 00:46.499 --> 00:48.560 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:12.120 --> 01:28.311 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Ephesians 4, verse 32, Scripture says, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. 01:31.733 --> 01:38.318 [SPEAKER_00]: We're promised forgiveness from our Father, because His forgiveness is offered in complete grace. 01:40.237 --> 01:51.729 [SPEAKER_00]: Ephesians 1 verse 7 says, In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. 01:53.931 --> 01:59.537 [SPEAKER_00]: We have done nothing to deserve the forgiveness God so freely lavishes upon us. 02:01.284 --> 02:04.848 [SPEAKER_00]: God offers us forgiveness because He is love. 02:05.869 --> 02:12.837 [SPEAKER_00]: It is His very nature and as Jesus demonstrated through His death, love for gifts. 02:15.552 --> 02:22.493 [SPEAKER_00]: sin stood between us and God, like a great chasm separating a wanderer from an oasis. 02:23.614 --> 02:30.835 [SPEAKER_00]: And so great was the Father's love for us that He sent His only son that we might be justly forgiven. 02:31.955 --> 02:36.456 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus fully bore the weight of our sin in doing so. 02:36.936 --> 02:39.197 [SPEAKER_00]: He received the wrath of God on 02:46.759 --> 02:51.923 [SPEAKER_00]: He set aside what was fair for himself and chose to give grace. 02:53.524 --> 03:05.973 [SPEAKER_00]: Second Corinthians 521 says, for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 03:08.990 --> 03:15.675 [SPEAKER_00]: Christianity is the only religion where salvation is based on grace instead of works. 03:17.377 --> 03:25.824 [SPEAKER_00]: God in His love has laid before us a path founded on mercy and He calls us to do the same for others. 03:27.625 --> 03:35.291 [SPEAKER_00]: As the children of God brought into His family solely by His grace, we must forgive as God has 03:38.234 --> 03:51.703 [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians 313 says, bear with one another and if one has a complaint against another forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive. 03:54.868 --> 04:01.451 [SPEAKER_00]: Jesus modeled forgiveness perfectly, in laying down his own life for you and me. 04:03.372 --> 04:12.496 [SPEAKER_00]: In order for us to forgive others, we must be like Jesus and die to our own rights for the sake of the person who has wronged us. 04:14.177 --> 04:16.278 [SPEAKER_00]: Forgiveness requires humility. 04:17.863 --> 04:26.653 [SPEAKER_00]: It is a decision to offer unmarried to grace, because as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 04:29.376 --> 04:31.479 [SPEAKER_00]: Think about your own life for a moment. 04:32.860 --> 04:35.243 [SPEAKER_00]: Who in your life do you feel has wronged you? 04:36.813 --> 04:38.173 [SPEAKER_00]: It could be a small wound. 04:39.233 --> 04:42.574 [SPEAKER_00]: It could be a life altering sin committed against you. 04:43.794 --> 04:45.314 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe a parent left you. 04:46.295 --> 04:47.575 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you were abused. 04:48.835 --> 04:52.116 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you lost a job opportunity that should have been yours. 04:53.516 --> 04:56.756 [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe it was a word someone spoke against you that hurt you. 04:57.797 --> 05:03.358 [SPEAKER_00]: Whatever sin was committed against you, large or small, call it back to mind. 05:08.336 --> 05:13.419 [SPEAKER_00]: and now reflect for a minute on the sin of the world committed against God. 05:14.880 --> 05:19.442 [SPEAKER_00]: The story of humanity is a fall from perfection because of pride. 05:20.943 --> 05:26.186 [SPEAKER_00]: In every age thus far, man has chosen his own way over God's. 05:27.166 --> 05:32.309 [SPEAKER_00]: In his thereby perpetuated the cycle of sin and destruction we live in today. 05:34.110 --> 05:45.839 [SPEAKER_00]: God placed His judgment over the sins of all humanity past and present on the person of Jesus, because He couldn't take being separated from you and me. 05:47.521 --> 05:51.504 [SPEAKER_00]: We have all been wronged, but no one more than God. 05:52.705 --> 05:55.447 [SPEAKER_00]: Every day humanity turns away from God. 05:58.482 --> 06:00.783 [SPEAKER_00]: God weeps over what's been done to you. 06:01.584 --> 06:13.551 [SPEAKER_00]: He knows your pain because people wrong him every minute of every day, but still he chooses to forgive because there is no love without forgiveness. 06:14.732 --> 06:19.274 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no abundant life apart from restoration of relationship. 06:20.555 --> 06:27.539 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no joy for God or us when we harden our hearts and live for what is fair rather than what is good. 06:29.130 --> 06:32.252 [SPEAKER_00]: We aren't called to forgive because someone deserves it. 06:33.253 --> 06:35.855 [SPEAKER_00]: We forgive because love requires it. 06:36.855 --> 06:39.817 [SPEAKER_00]: We forgive because abundant life requires it. 06:41.399 --> 06:44.901 [SPEAKER_00]: Choose love today over your own sense of fairness. 06:46.322 --> 06:50.525 [SPEAKER_00]: Choose to be like your heavenly Father and forgive those who have wronged you. 06:52.556 --> 07:01.743 [SPEAKER_00]: choose to be a doer of Colossians 313 and forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you so you also must forgive. 07:03.765 --> 07:09.449 [SPEAKER_00]: You weren't made to live with the weight of unforgiveness, so don't bear it any longer. 07:10.630 --> 07:11.891 [SPEAKER_00]: The Spirit will help you. 07:12.912 --> 07:16.915 [SPEAKER_00]: You will give you the strength and courage to do what seems impossible. 07:18.783 --> 07:24.351 [SPEAKER_00]: spend time in God's presence today and forgive as he guides and directs you. 07:55.877 --> 08:06.444 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin, meditate on God's heart to forgive, allow God's forgiveness to be the foundation for your own. 08:07.504 --> 08:18.231 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 103 verse 12 says, as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us? 08:59.817 --> 09:10.627 [SPEAKER_00]: and next, ask the spirit who you need to forgive, whether the wound was small or big to whom do you need to offer grace today? 09:49.989 --> 10:00.996 [SPEAKER_00]: and last, forgive that person, forgive them in your heart right now, if you can, set up a meeting with them to talk through what happened. 10:02.116 --> 10:10.822 [SPEAKER_00]: The awkwardness or pain of the conversation will never outweigh the lasting peace you'll experience from offering grace and forgiveness. 10:12.637 --> 10:26.510 [SPEAKER_00]: Colossians 313 says, bear with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 11:08.047 --> 11:13.068 [SPEAKER_00]: Forgiveness is a process, but it is a process worth going through. 11:14.649 --> 11:17.409 [SPEAKER_00]: Assess your heart immediately after you've been wronged. 11:18.710 --> 11:25.351 [SPEAKER_00]: Go through the process of forgiveness, instead of allowing the wound to be reopened time and time again. 11:27.172 --> 11:32.953 [SPEAKER_00]: The French proverb says, write injuries in sand, kindness and marble. 11:34.618 --> 11:35.818 [SPEAKER_00]: It's okay to be hurt. 11:37.059 --> 11:42.780 [SPEAKER_00]: It's only harmful if you write your wounds in marble and let them linger longer than they should. 11:44.460 --> 11:48.441 [SPEAKER_00]: God has designed you in His image and has given you His spirit. 11:49.482 --> 11:51.502 [SPEAKER_00]: You have the strength to forgive. 11:52.782 --> 11:55.183 [SPEAKER_00]: So choose love today and every day. 11:56.680 --> 12:05.254 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow the spirit to work in your heart, healing the wounds people in life have caused you through the wonderful gift of forgiveness. 12:30.137 --> 12:32.518 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you for listening to today's podcast. 12:32.939 --> 12:34.799 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First Fifteen. 12:35.560 --> 12:41.443 [SPEAKER_00]: I wanted to take a moment to remind you today that First Fifteen is a completely donor-funded ministry. 12:42.243 --> 12:47.246 [SPEAKER_00]: If God has been using First Fifteen in your life, would you consider supporting our ministry? 12:48.106 --> 12:58.212 [SPEAKER_00]: You are one of millions of people being impacted by First Fifteen this year, and we could use your support to help even more people around the world draw closer to God. 12:59.372 --> 13:07.256 [SPEAKER_00]: To give head over to supportfirst15.org or you can make a one-time donation or become a first 15 monthly partner. 13:08.217 --> 13:14.420 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for your generosity and for simply being a part of what God is doing here at first 15. 13:15.381 --> 13:19.583 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.