Poetry and Prayers

Christ's Spirit of Forgiveness
(A Post-9/11 Letter to the Christian Body of Christ)

We need to manifest the Spirit of Christ in forgiving others in our daily life, and in our interpersonal relationships. Jesus said, “For if you forgive those who sin against you, Your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive (the wrongs of) others, Your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15NLT).

The unconverted, carnal mind says, “Hate your enemies! Curse them that curse and persecute you. Render evil for evil! Despise them that despitefully use, misuse, and abuse you. Whack those devils”! It’s only natural if you have not been “born again”. Christ counsels His disciples in Matthew 5:44 to: “Love your enemies. Bless them that curse you. Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”. We need the attitude, faith, and spirit, prayer life, and mindset of Jesus Christ.

A Messenger of the Lord said, “Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but He loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of all who follow Him” (Desire of Ages, p. 462). Our motives must be right in order for our actions to be right. A True Christian lives a Christ-like Lifestyle, and does not lie, lust, or gossip! “Be kind to each other… forgiving one another (70 times 7) just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Eph 4:32).

Jesus prayed, while hanging on a Cross of Execution: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). “He who is unmerciful toward others shows that he himself is not a partaker of God’s pardoning grace… We are not forgiven because we forgive, but as we forgive” (Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 247-251). Let us seek Christ’s Righteousness by faith. Let us strive to imitate and emulate the righteous character of Christ.