Forgiveness Heals - Mark 11:25-26

"An insightful first grade teacher read to her students many wise old sayings that we've all heard since we were young. Then she'd stop each phrase just before the conclusion and she'd ask those five and six year olds to fill in kind of the last part of the phrase. Their answers have made me chuckle over and over again."

Family Discussions:

1. Why does God put such a high price tag on forgiveness?
2. How does forgiveness heal so effectively in here and out here with others?
3. Who do you need to forgive today?
4. Are you willing to do that before the sun goes down tonight?

Transcription:

00:13          Let's talk about a Bible verse that would change your world, change your life forever. This one will get you right between the eyes. It's in Mark chapter 11 verse 25 through 26. Again, Jesus teaches an amazing principle. He says this, "whenever you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone so that your father in heaven will also forgive you of your transgressions. But if you do not forgive, neither will your father who is in heaven forgive you of your transgressions."

 

00:47          You know, an insightful first grade teacher read to her students many wise old sayings that we've all heard since we were young. Then she'd stop each phrase just before the conclusion and she'd ask those five and six year olds to fill in kind of the last part of the phrase. Their answers have made me chuckle over and over again. Here are just a few of the things that she would say. She'd say 'better safe than...' When kids said 'punch a fifth grader.' And another one she said, 'never underestimate the power of...' One kid said 'termites.' She said, 'don't bite the hand that...' One first grader said 'looks dirty.' She said, 'you can't teach an old dog new...' 'Math,' a kid said. 'A penny saved is...' 'Not much' 'Two's company. Three's...' 'The Musketeers.' 'Children should not be...' 'Spanked or grounded.' 'If at first you don't succeed...' One kid says, 'get new batteries.'.

 

01:42          You know, there's no Proverbs or wise words, more reliable and more profound than the life shaping time that God said forgive and it will be forgiven unto you. He didn't wink. He didn't smile. He didn't shift his feet when he said it. Hey, have you ever wondered why he spoke so frankly, on this subject. You know, life in the home provides the greatest laboratory in the world for the answer. Forgiveness heals. It heals your relationship with your mom, with your dad, with your husband, with your son, with your daughter. It heals your lack of joy. It heals the lack of peace that's in your heart brought down by your personal vendetta and it heals your relationship with God. No pharmacy, no hospital, no medical doctor can provide a bottle of medicine as powerful as the healing power of forgiveness. You know what? Bitterness kills. It kills your relationships with the ones you love in your home. You know what, there'll be the most important relationships throughout your life. Bitterness kills your inner joy. It kills your inner peace. It kills your daily fellowship with God. So forgive and it will be forgiven unto you. Isn't that great?

 

03:01          Here's the question for today. Why does God put such a high price tag on forgiveness? And then secondly, how does forgiveness heal so effectively in here and out here with others? And here's the big one. You guys who do you need to forgive today? And are you willing to do that before the sun goes down tonight? The thought for the day is this, forgiving hearts are happy hearts. Isn't that great