Editor's Note: I wrote this message and presented these images for our church's July newsletter. May they bless you too.
I'm Sorry. I Forgive You.
In Sunday School, we use these two simple lines in a role-playing scenario to teach a powerful lesson. The children pair up. One says, "I'm sorry." The other replies, "I forgive you." Then, the two switch roles so that each has an opportunity to ask for and give forgiveness.
Most students find the lesson easy. A few truly struggle to utter the words.
In The Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Our Lord's lesson is a healthy habit. We admit that we are human. We make mistakes. We are sorry and want to do better. We admit that other people make mistakes too. When we offer them forgiveness - whether or not they ask for the gift - we free ourselves from the burden and give it over to God.
God loves each one of us. He wants us close to Him. Jesus made that relationship possible. Through Jesus' death on the cross, he bought us by paying for our sins so that, by believing in Him, we might live forever in God's Kingdom. Let's pray:
Good and gracious God, Thank YOU for sending Your Son, Jesus, to teach me how to love others by forgiving them with help from Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
