Forgiveness Before Repentance


For the season of Lent I'll be sharing devotions from Grace Lutheran's devotional book: "Forgiven." 

While these devotions are not my words and may not represent my own faith or theological understanding, they are valuable personal faith perspectives of 40 of Grace's members and I am so grateful for their generosity in sharing them.

Part Five: All Can Be Forgiven

Mark 2:1-12 (forgiveness before repentance)

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some peoplecame, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Mark 2:1-12 Illustrates Jesus love for all no matter who you are and what you have done.  Jesus will always love you and forgive your sins.  All can be forgiven and we as Christians need to be more forgiving of others and have courage similar to the four men that brought the paralyzed man to Jesus for forgiveness and his miracle of healing.  By welcoming all people, not judging and forgiving others we will all become closer to God in our faith journey. 

Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for forgiving our sins and for guiding our faith bringing us closer to you.   Through your amazing kindness please continue to nurture our faith and help us share the good news bringing friends and community closer to you.  Thank you for hearing our prayers and please help us to forgive others as all can be forgiven.
Amen

Have a blessed day!

~ Deb

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