Daily Devotional for January 26, 2023

Yesterday, Dr. Bradley walked into the Dennis Hall wearing one of the most beautiful sports coats I had ever seen.  I said, “Dr. Bradley, if anything happens to you, can I have that coat?”  He said, “I will let Becky know.”

Then, without missing a beat, Ellie, who was sitting at the reception desk said, “If you wore that coat, it would come to your knees.”

This got me thinking.

While everyone in the world thinks Ellie is one of the sweetest people God ever made, and even her husband thinks she hung the moon, I’m beginning to have my doubts, after her hurtful, mean, degrading, ridiculing comment about my height.

As a rule, Ellie is a genuinely wonderful person.  She is the perfect person to be our church receptionist.  Having said that, isn’t everyone allowed grace, even after they say a hurtful, mean, degrading, ridiculing comment about my height?

While I’ve never told Jesus, Dr. Bradley’s sports coat would hang down to his knees, there are plenty of things I have said, done, and thought that required Jesus’ forgiveness.  I can only expect to receive God’s forgiveness, if I forgive Ellie’s hurtful, mean, degrading, ridiculing comment about my height.

Jesus said, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”  (Matthew 6:14-15)

Forgiving Ellie’s hurtful, mean, degrading, ridiculing comment about my height is not an option.  I must forgive.  So do you.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, help me forgive those who have hurt me or those who I love.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

No one ever said forgiveness is easy.  It’s not.  But it is a necessary part of being a Christian, even if it is about Ellie’s hurtful, mean, degrading, ridiculing comment about my height.

I hope you can forgive today.  It will make your life much easier.  I promise.

Thank goodness I am not the sensitive type or Ellie’s hurtful, mean, degrading, ridiculing comment about my height, would have really gotten to me.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins