Why Must I Forgive?

Monday, September 1, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse: Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Proverbs 22:6

6 “Train up a child in the way he should go;    even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Daily reading: Psalm 135-136 1 Corinthians 12

Why Do They Need Forgiveness

On the cross Jesus prayed, “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”(Luke 23:24)

If they don’t know what they are doing, why do they need to be forgiven? The answer is that they were guilty for not knowing what they were doing. They were guilty of ignoring the truth-they refused the truth.

The most innocent and loving man who ever lived is sentenced to death and is being killed on a cross and He(Jesus) prays to His Father that they see the truth, repent, and are forgiven.

I have never sinned ignorantly. I have always known what I was doing. I allowed myself to be lured into sin and fell for it and sinned. I rejected the truth. I needed to repent and be forgiven.

From the cross, Jesus declares their guilt and prays for their forgiveness-as He dies from their sin.

Jesus is telling us that our enemies’ guilt must not stop our love, mercy and forgiveness-we must not stop God’s love from working through us.

If we don’t forgive, we are no better than those who nailed Jesus to the cross. If we don’t forgive, we are ignoring the truth just as those who put Jesus on the cross.

Tell God how you feel. Tell Him you have a hard time forgiving your enemies. If your enemy has not sinned against you-if you just don’t ‘like’ someone, confess that to God and ask Him to change your heart for that person.

...because He loves you, He will do it…

Father in Heaven,

Your Holy name is above all other powers. Your kingdom is perfect. Lead me to do Your will. Give me more desire today to follow You. Forgive me for ignoring the truth. Lead me away from evil.

Most forgiving Father,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen