Sink Your Ship

TITLE: Sink Your Ship
DATE:  August 11, 2019
TEXT: Matthew 6:14-15 - (ESV) - 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Yesterday’s devo spoke about forgiveness. Now, I would like to know, are you ready, REALLY ready to forgive others?.
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Jesus says, “It’s really important that you forgive others as I have forgiven you."

Then when I really get serious about listening to Him, I remember those faces over the years against whom I have held a grudge. The number of those faces is surprising. What is even more surprising is the realization that in holding a grudge, I have hurt me more than I did them.

It kind of reminds me of an event from World War II.

The U. S. submarine Tang had had a successful run. They could hardly believe their good luck when they came, at night, upon a large Japanese convoy off the coast of China. As it was night, they surfaced, and prepared to fire the eight torpedoes they had left. The first seven shots were right on target; but when the eighth was launched, something malfunctioned.

The torpedo suddenly veered off course, turned and headed right back at their own ship. The captain rang the emergency submerge call, but it was too late. Within a matter of seconds, the Tang received a direct hit and sank.
The point is: I wonder how many torpedo-like grudges I have fired at others during the course of my life?  I wonder how many times I have sunk my own ship.
esus would say that it happens every time. Whenever I fire at those who have done me a real, or imagined fault, I am cheapening the forgiveness that Jesus has won for me at such a high price on Golgotha's summit.

I am saying that I expect God to forgive the myriad number of  sins I have committed against Him, even as I refuse to forgive the few and feeble sins that others have committed against me.

Truly, anyone who feels that way needs to spend some time at the foot of Christ’s cross. They need to see the Savior destroy the sins of every man, woman and child who have ever lived.

They need to see it is a painful passion which Jesus undertakes to free us.

The price is nothing less than His precious blood. From the cross I hear Jesus say, "Father, forgive them", and I know that I cannot keep firing the torpedoes that sink my relationship with the Lord.

That is why, when the Savior says to me, "Are you REALLY ready to forgive?", I cannot help but reply, “By Your grace, dear Lord."

THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, You have forgiven my sins, both large and small. Now, send Your Holy Spirit upon me and create a new heart within me,. By Your grace and power may I forgive others so they may see a small reflection of Your love in my dealings with others. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html