Page 188 - That I May Know Him (1964)

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As We Are Forgiven, June 23
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:12
.
It is most difficult, even for those who claim to be followers of Jesus,
to forgive as Christ forgives us. The true spirit of forgiveness is so little
practiced, and so many interpretations are placed upon Christ’s requirement,
that its force and beauty are lost sight of. We have very uncertain views
of the great mercy and loving-kindness of God. He is full of compassion
and forgiveness, and freely pardons when we truly repent and confess our
sins....
Peter, when brought to the test, sinned greatly. In denying the Master
he had loved and served, he became a cowardly apostate. But his Lord did
not cast him off; He freely forgave him.... Henceforth, remembering his
own weakness and failures, he would be patient with his brethren in their
mistakes and errors. Remembering the patient love of Christ toward him,
affording him another opportunity to bring forth the fruit of good works,
he would be more conciliatory toward erring ones....
The Lord requires of us the same treatment toward His followers that we
receive of Him. We are to exercise patience, to be kind even though they do
not meet our expectations in every particular.... The last six commandments
specify man’s duty to man. Christ did not say, You may tolerate your
neighbor, but, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” ...
The love of Jesus needs to be brought to bear upon our lives. It will
have a softening, subduing influence upon our hearts and characters. It will
prompt us to forgive our brethren even though they have done us injury.
Divine love must flow from our hearts in gentle words and kindly actions
to one another. The fruit of these good works will hang as rich clusters
upon the vine of character....
Rejoicing in Christ as your Saviour, pitiful, compassionate, and touched
with the feeling of your infirmities, love and joy will be revealed in your
daily life. If you love Him who died to redeem mankind you will love
those for whom He died
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The Review and Herald, November 16, 1886
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