Forgiven and Forgiving, Making Disciples
February 11, 2021
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV
The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) are the eye-witness accounts of those who knew Jesus and saw how He lived and what He taught. The book of Acts tells how the Church began to take on the “greater things” mission after Jesus returned to His Father. The rest of the New Testament books (with the exception of the book of Revelation) were written for the churches that were planted and the people who were leading, to tell them how the teachings and life of Jesus should be lived out in their lives as Jesus-followers. This is the way they would build relationships and make disciples.
Paul is talking to a group of friends in the city of Colossae who have come to believe in Jesus. He wants them to have more than belief. He is earnestly teaching them to be true Jesus-followers who make disciples. For that to be so, they must love with His sacrificial love. That kind of sacrificial love leads to and requires forgiveness. He spoke plainly, in words no one could misunderstand. They could twist, manipulate, misquote, and disobey—but everyone could understand what he said.
Jesus-followers are patient with others. We don’t expect perfection, and because we put their needs first, we don’t fly off the handle or cut people off if they disappoint us. We are never part of the cancel culture.
Jesus-followers forgive proactively. It we have an issue with someone, we forgive them before it is even worked out. The moment we realize there is a problem, we decide to forgive. In the prayer Jesus used as an example for us, He showed us how to determine ahead of time that whatever happens, we will live in forgiveness. There’s no excuse for holding on to anything.
Jesus-followers use as their standard the way Jesus forgave them. What are the words we can use to describe how Jesus forgave and forgives us? Completely. Without reminders of our wrongdoing. Forever, no bringing it back up. Instantly. What others would you use? It’s a high standard, but a great reward.
No wonder the early Christians were known as “the ones who turned the world upside down!” What will happen in our world if we consistently love and forgive like that? We would make disciples.
- Pray: Ask Jesus to bring to your mind any outstanding debts owed you that need forgiven. Make it the first order of business to handle them. You can’t help anyone become a disciple when you don’t forgive them.