Romans 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

John 8:7b “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her”

Our human nature makes it easy for us to overlook our own shortcomings and faults (or perhaps turn a blind eye and deaf ear to them) while zeroing in on the problems and issues of others. Many of the people who don’t “make the cut” and receive admittance into our circle of friends are excluded because of some wrong they did to us or someone close to us. Forgiveness is not a naturally occurring virtue in man. Fortunately, we are all in need of it! Jesus said we all miss the mark when living and walking by our old man nature. Because we are all guilty, we need to recognize that those people who have offended us or hurt us appear the same way to us that we appear to those that we have offended or hurt (either intentionally or unintentionally, it doesn’t matter). Every one of us is in need of forgiveness for something we have done. We should never look at others and try to determine ‘degrees’ of seriousness. As children of God, we must learn to love in spite of what people do, and we must learn to forgive because that is what Jesus did for us, undeserving though we may be.

Pray: “Heavenly Father, I know better than anyone all of the actions, thoughts and spoken words that you have had to forgive me for. Help me not to judge others and view them with an unforgiving eye when they do things to offend or hurt me. I have offended and hurt many others in my time. Grant me the wisdom to forgive as I wanted to be forgiven and as you have forgiven me. I cannot do this without your help, Father. Let me remember my own imperfections and not pick up that stone. In Jesus precious name I pray - Amen”