Today's Verse: Matthew 6:14

Sunday, August 20, 2023

If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
— Matthew 6:14
Now you can listen to Today's Verse on iTunes, Spotify, Echo devices, and more!

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

As Christians, we are meant to live in God's environment of forgiveness and grace. As we forgive others, the basis of that forgiveness is the incredible debt that God has already forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32-5:1; Matthew 6:14-15, 18:21-35). God wants to see his forgiveness kept in circulation and passed on to others by us. God joyously pours out more forgiveness and love into us as we forgive others (Romans 5:5). As hard as it is for us to forgive someone who has harmed and wounded us, Jesus wants us to know that the blessings far outweigh the costs!

My Prayer...

Loving and just God, thank you for cleansing and forgiving me through the atoning sacrifice of your Son, Jesus. Thank you for challenging me to forgive others as you have forgiven me. Thank you for demanding that your people be a community of forgiveness. Forgive us, and especially forgive me, when we are reluctant, slow, and hesitant with our forgiveness. I ask especially that you will forgive ___ for ____, and I ask you to bless this person with your love and grace as the Holy Spirit heals my heart from its wounds. I ask for this power to forgive and heal, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have thoughts on this devotional? Leave a comment

24 Related Resources by Heartlight

The great circle of grace.
Illustration of Matthew 6:14
Inspirational illustration of Matthew 6:14 -- If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
A Hard but Liberating Truth
Devo: Together in Christ
"[As Jesus taught his disciples to pray, he emphasized this crucial truth:] "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will..."
Forgive
Devo: What Jesus Did!
"[Jesus continued:] "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father...."
Jesus Smiled
Article by Phil Ware
Our God is the God of surprising opportunities, fresh hope, and new life. Phil Ware reminds us of John Mark's failure when he deserted the mission field and the mission team and describes how God used this mess and the grace, mercy, and love of godly men to bring great good out of potential disaster.
See All 24 Related Resources about Matthew 6:14

Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 6:14 — If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Other Devotionals from Heartlight for Sunday, August 20, 2023

A Year with Jesus
A devotional to help reclaim Jesus as the daily Lord of our lives.
'Closing Words, Closing Grace'
"Dear Committed Follower, As Paul came to the end of his very challenging letter to the Corinthians, the letter you call 2 Corinthians, he had several..."
Morning & Evening
The classic twice-daily devotional from Charles H. Spurgeon.
Evening Thought: Deuteronomy 1:38
"God employs his people to encourage one another. He did not say to an angel, "Gabriel, my servant Joshua is about to lead my people into Canaan-go,..."
Unstoppable!
A one-year devotional guide through the book of Acts.
'Our True Enemy' (Acts 19:13-20)
"A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying,...."
Daily Wisdom
A daily devotional featuring wise counsel found in Scripture.
Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.""

About This Devotional

Today's Verse is a free daily devotional that includes a Bible verse, thought and prayer.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.

More Today's Verse