Last week I went onto the USC campus with another brother to share the gospel and we had a short, but wonderful conversation with a student as he walked home from class. It seemed to me that he was genuinely saved so I proceeded to consider before the Lord what I should share with him. What came out was unexpected to me, yet a topic so basic and sweet that I left the conversation rejoicing! What came to me was this question, "why."
I shared with him that, through the Bible, God tells us to do many things. I proceeded to list a few items that it instructs us to do, but focused on command to "forgive one another" and "love the Lord your God." I asked him, Why should we forgive one another? And why should we love God?
He didn't have an answer.
I shared with him that, through the Bible, God tells us to do many things. I proceeded to list a few items that it instructs us to do, but focused on command to "forgive one another" and "love the Lord your God." I asked him, Why should we forgive one another? And why should we love God?
He didn't have an answer.
I said, "The marvelous thing is that God doesn't just command us to do things, but He tells us to do things that He has first done for us. We should forgive one another because He first forgave us. We should love God because He first loved us."
Here are a few verses that came to mind:
Here are a few verses that came to mind:
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ also forgave you.
–Ephesians 4:32
Bearing one another and forgiving one another, if anyone should have a complaint against anyone; even as the Lord forgave you, so also should you forgive.
–Colossians 3:13
We love because He first loved us.
–1 John 4:19
What a sweet message!
The motivation for us to forgive one another and to Love God does not originate from ourselves, but is rather a humble response to His mercy and His love toward us.
Praise the Lord Jesus! He is so wonderful!
The motivation for us to forgive one another and to Love God does not originate from ourselves, but is rather a humble response to His mercy and His love toward us.
Praise the Lord Jesus! He is so wonderful!