For Christ's Sake

585 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Sa 18:5,6, “Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom." And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains orders concerning Absalom. ( 2 Sam 18:5-8) David had great confidence in his troops to gain the victory over Absalom, and “for his sake,” he instructs all three of his generals (within earshot of all) to deal gently with his rebel son. Reminds me of the words of Jesus when He hung on the cross and said, (within ear shot of all) “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and also the words of Stephen as he was being stoned to death, “Lord, do not lay this sin to their charge.” Forgiveness of our own sins and the forgiving of others for the sake of Christ is the heart of Christianity. It's why we pray in the Lord's prayer: “forgive us our debts as we also forgive our debtors.” and why Jesus added at the end of the prayer in Mt 6:14,15, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Perhaps some of you will remember the part of your worship service that incorporated this confession of sin, “ Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer; we poor sinners confess unto You that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Therefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, and ask You FOR CHRIST'S SAKE, grant us forgiveness of all our sins.” It is all for the sake of Christ and what He did on Calvary for us. He died on a tree so that we would not have to die on a tree as Absalom did. It is because of what He did that we can ask for and receive forgiveness and it is for His sake that we are to forgive others. Eph 4:32 says, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.” Father, thank You for dealing gently with us and as the Psalmist said, Ps 103:10 You have not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.”