Our series at the end of 2015, “God Is…” ended with the wonderful news that God is Here – as Jesus Christ. So, this new series for 2016 picks right up on that theme!
We’ll be learning about Jesus from some key stories in the Bible.
Loading Content...
Share a Link to this Message
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseRyan Sim - May 16, 2013
Thursday - Act On It - Forgiveness
You’ll be challenged to forgive today. Perhaps you bristle at the thought, and say, “no one can tell me when to forgive. I can hold a grudge if I want to.” I once knew a woman you shared a story with me about a past employer who was cruel and unkind. My friend became visibly agitated as she told the story, and said that to this day, she leaves parties and restaurants the moment her former employer arrives. I asked when this happened, and learned this person had been leaving parties and restaurants for 20 years! The worst part is, the cruel employer may have no idea this is happening. My friend thinks she is hurting her former employer, but she’s really hurting herself, by bowing out of parties! This is a vivid example of how forgiveness is not just about releasing those who hurt us, but it is a release for the person doing the forgiving as well. It allows us to step out of God’s role, and allow him to be God over us. That’s what being a Christian is supposed to be all about, and is why Jesus claimed forgiveness was so essential for his followers. If we do not forgive others, we are trying to be God – the ultimate judge – over them. Now, forgiveness is very hard, I will admit. It’s seen as impossible for many. But thankfully, we don’t have to muster the strength or resolve to forgive all on our own. Jesus has forgiven everyone for us. He went around earth forgiving people their sins, which seemed absurd, since he didn’t appear to have been wronged. But as God, he was wronged anytime one of his beloved children was wronged, and could forgive those sinners even when the wronged party could not. We forgive because God has forgiven us, and even if we can’t find the strength, forgiveness can be as simple as asking God to forgive them. The example of my friend who left parties because her enemy arrived is apt. God’s kingdom is described in the Bible as a party. Forgiveness can let us enjoy the party - God’s party. Don’t avoid the party, just to hold a grudge. Challenge: Consider someone who has hurt you. Forgive them today. Start by telling God you’ve forgiven them, or need him to forgive them. Then tell yourself they are forgiven, every day, if necessary. Then, if you can, and it’s safe, tell that person that they are forgiven. This is a process – it needs to be a daily practice sometimes. If forgiveness is something that needs to happen in your relationship, we have some great help on forgiveness in the Marriage Course. The forgiveness topic starts on Day 27.
Related Topics: Forgiveness | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Sermon on the Mount"
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
EPIC: Isaiah - Tuesday | May 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Wednesday | May 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Thursday | May 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Friday | May 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Monday | June 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Tuesday | June 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Wednesday | June 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Thursday | June 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Friday | June 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Monday | June 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Tuesday | June 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Wednesday | June 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Thursday | June 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Friday | June 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Monday | June 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Tuesday | June 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Wednesday | June 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Thursday | June 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Friday | June 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Monday | June 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Tuesday | June 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Wednesday | June 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Thursday | June 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Friday | June 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Monday | June 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Tuesday | June 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Wednesday | July 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Thursday | July 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Friday | July 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Monday | July 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Tuesday | July 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Wednesday | July 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Thursday | July 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Friday | July 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Monday | July 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Tuesday | July 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Wednesday | July 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Thursday | July 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Friday | July 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Monday | July 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Tuesday | July 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Wednesday | July 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Thursday | July 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Friday | July 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Work | July 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Work | July 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Work | July 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Work | July 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Work | July 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Badly | August 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Working Badly | August 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Working Badly | August 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Badly | August 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Badly | August 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Well | August 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Working Well | August 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Working Well | August 12, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Thursday - Act On It - Working Well | August 13, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Working Well | August 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Rest | August 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Rest | August 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Rest | August 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Rest | August 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Rest | August 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Finding Rest | August 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Finding Rest | August 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Finding Rest | August 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Finding Rest | August 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Finding Rest | August 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Inner Rest | August 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Inner Rest | September 1, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Inner Rest | September 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Inner Rest | September 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Inner Rest | September 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Structured Rest | September 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Structured Rest | September 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Structured Rest | September 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Structured Rest | September 10, 2015 | Interview | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Structured Rest | September 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Generous - Monday | September 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Generous - Tuesday | September 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Generous - Wednesday | September 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Generous - Thursday | September 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Generous - Friday | September 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Saviour - Monday | September 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Saviour - Tuesday | September 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Saviour - Wednesday | September 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Saviour - Thursday | September 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Saviour - Friday | September 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Patient - Monday | September 28, 2015 | Waterworks | Watch | Listen | |
God Is...Patient - Tuesday | September 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Patient - Wednesday | September 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Patient - Thursday | October 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Patient - Friday | October 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Holy - Monday | October 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Holy - Tuesday | October 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Holy - Wednesday | October 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Holy - Friday | October 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...One - Monday | October 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...One - Tuesday | October 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...One - Wednesday | October 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...One - Thursday | October 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Worthy - Monday | October 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Worthy - Tuesday | October 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Worthy - Wednesday | October 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Worthy - Thursday | October 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Unfailing - Monday | October 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Unfailing - Tuesday | October 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Unfailing - Wednesday | October 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Unfailing - Thursday | October 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Speaking - Monday | November 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Speaking - Tuesday | November 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Speaking - Wednesday | November 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Speaking - Thursday | November 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Encouraging - Monday | November 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Encouraging - Tuesday | November 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Encouraging - Thursday | November 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Transformative - Monday | November 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Transformative - Tuesday | November 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
God Is...Transformative - Wednesday | November 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen |