MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR EACH OTHER’S FAULTS
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV)
We're all going to mess up. Intentionally or not, there are things we're going to do wrong. What happens when we do that? Hopefully, we have surrounded ourselves with people who will walk through our mistakes with us and not cast us aside.
King David made some serious mistakes in his life. He even went so far as to sleep with someone else's wife. The story of David and Bathsheba is full of infidelity, deception and murder. Even though all of this happened, God did not abandon David. There were consequences to his actions, but God never left him.
We also have to live with the consequences of our actions and choices. When we make mistakes, we need to own up to them and ask for forgiveness from those we've harmed. This passage in Colossians tells us not only to forgive others but also to love them. This allows us to live in harmony.
This is all almost impossible if you have not experienced the transforming love of Jesus. Out of this, our lives are different. Once this transformation has happened, we see the Fruit of the Spirit that Paul wrote about in Galatians, …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23a (NIV)
These traits help us understand and love people, even when they have done something wrong. We should forgive and continue to be in relationship with the person, showing them the love God showed us through His Son Jesus.
APPLICATION: Look back over the last few weeks and see if there has been an instance when you didn't make allowance for another's faults. Pray and seek God's forgiveness, and then seek the person out to forgive and mend the relationship.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for forgiving my sins and making allowance for my faults. I strive to grow closer to You and live like Jesus in all that I do. Help me to forgive and see others as You do. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?