Extending Mercy

Welcome to another Daily Encouragement from the Our Daily Bread Devotional.

Today's reading titled Extending Mercy was written by Amy Boucher-Pye. Reflecting on how she forgave Manasseh, the man who killed her husband and some of her children in the Rwandan genocide, Beata said, My forgiving is based on what Jesus did. He took the punishment for every evil act throughout all time.

His cross is the place we find victory, the only place. Manasseh had written to Beata from prison more than once begging her and God for forgiveness as he detailed the regular nightmares that plagued him. At first, she could extend no mercy, saying she hated him for killing her family. But then, Jesus intruded into her thoughts. And with God's help some two years later, she forgave him. In this, Beata followed Jesus' instruction to his disciples to forgive those who repent. He said in Luke chapter 17 that even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, I repent, you must forgive them. But to forgive can be extremely difficult as we see by the disciples' reaction. Increase our faith. Beata's faith increased as she wrestled in prayer over her inability to forgive. If like her, we're struggling to forgive, we can ask God through His Holy Spirit to help us to do so. As our faith increases, He helps us to forgive.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Luke chapter 17, verses one through five. Jesus said to his disciples, Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to any one through whom they come! It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

So watch yourselves. If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them. And if they repent, forgive them.

Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, I repent, you must forgive them. The apostles said to the Lord, increase our faith. Let's pray. Jesus, we know that the consequences of sin is both spiritual and physical death. Thank you, Jesus, for releasing us from the consequences of our sins through your death on the cross, death on our behalf. Help us to live our lives to the same kind of love and forgiveness that you extend to us. We love you, Lord. It's in your merciful name that we pray. Amen. Today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries.