A few days ago, I did my favorite Hero's of Forgiveness of the Old Testament. Now, it's time for round two, but with the New Testament!
1. Of course Christ is the Ultimate Forgiver, but I'm going to do mortals! Firstly, Mary and Joseph. It had to be a duo effort. When Mary became pregnant, Joseph (even though he was told by the Angel of God to go on) must have had to forgive Mary to be able to have a happy marriage. And Mary must have had to be able to forgive Joseph, for thinking she had slept with a soldier. (Which may have been the only other possibility, but it she was still probably hurt.)
2. John the Baptist. One of my favorites. He is just amazing, his persistence spurred on by the Holy Spirit. Never giving up on the promise of the Messiah, and always forgiving those who didn't believe. But he didn't give up to try to convert them, even when they turned away.
3. The 12 Apostles. These were the models that Christ needed for the people. They forgave, they endured in the face of danger, they sacrificed for the church. They were Christ's right hand men.
4. Paul. From being one of the most promising Pharisees, he turned to be one of the strongest warriors for Christ. How many times was Paul persecuted? Tortured? Imprisoned? But he stood fast, forever forgiving those who did him wrong. He was definitely not the man he used to be.
5. Stephen the First Martyr. He cried out to the Lord to forgive the people, even when he was being stoned!
6. And last but definitely not least, Ananias. Not the Ananias and Sapphira, but the one who converted Paul. (Or at that time, Saul.) He was nervous, because here was the Christians greatest enemy, and God wanted him to convert him? That definitely took some forgiveness.
So that concludes the Hall of Forgiveness! The theme of forgiveness just kept standing out to me. I hope you have enjoyed! Oh! And on a side note, this is my fiftieth post! HOORAY!
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Forgiveness. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
The Hall of Forgiveness Part 1
(Halfway through my challenge! Hope you guys enjoy.)
I'm sure you have heard of the Hall of Faith, listed in Hebrews. Then is where I got this idea from. Why just a Hall of Faith, but also Hall of Forgiveness? Or, more accurately: The Hall of Forgivers.
What exactly is that suppose to mean? I am going to list men and women from the Bible, who forgave. Even when they could have easily struck back, or held it against the person who wronged them. It is important to learn what our ancestors did, so that we can observe and apply it to our lives. God obviously is giving us examples so that we can learn. He wouldn't be showing it over and over again if it wasn't important.
Of course, God is the Supreme example. The abundance of His love that washes all of our sins away. Anyway, I'm going to pick and choose people from the start to the end of the Old Testament.
1. Noah. I believe that he had to be able to forgive all of those people that mocked him while he was building the Ark. If he hadn't been able to let it slide, he would have given up on building the Ark.
2. Joseph. It took an enormous amount of the Spirit moving in him, to be able to make his heart ready to forgive his brothers; but he did.
3. Moses. How many times was he ridiculed by his own people, when he came to Egypt to deliver them? Very similar to how Christ was mocked by the people who He came to save. Moses forgave and moved on.
4. Gideon. This man had many faults, but he still came back to raise Israel up out of slavery, after being sent away from his family.
5. Naomi. She was sad in her heart that her sons and husband had died, but she did not hold it against the Lord.
6. David. In my opinion, one of the greats. He was persecuted so many times, he was patient through trials and tribulations. He never raised a hand against the Lord's anointed, even though he knew that he was heir to the throne. And another example of his forgiveness, when Absalom rose up against him. His own son. Yet David still loved him.
7. Job. This man is also one of my favorites. He never hated his friends or his wife for trying to draw him away from the Lord, he forgave.
8. Last but not least. The prophets of God. Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and all the rest. They had to have so much patience and forgiveness for the nation, that it was evident that God was working through them.
That is it for the Old Testament! Remember, if these Heros of old can forgive, why can't we? Forgive and let go.
I'm sure you have heard of the Hall of Faith, listed in Hebrews. Then is where I got this idea from. Why just a Hall of Faith, but also Hall of Forgiveness? Or, more accurately: The Hall of Forgivers.
What exactly is that suppose to mean? I am going to list men and women from the Bible, who forgave. Even when they could have easily struck back, or held it against the person who wronged them. It is important to learn what our ancestors did, so that we can observe and apply it to our lives. God obviously is giving us examples so that we can learn. He wouldn't be showing it over and over again if it wasn't important.
Of course, God is the Supreme example. The abundance of His love that washes all of our sins away. Anyway, I'm going to pick and choose people from the start to the end of the Old Testament.
1. Noah. I believe that he had to be able to forgive all of those people that mocked him while he was building the Ark. If he hadn't been able to let it slide, he would have given up on building the Ark.
2. Joseph. It took an enormous amount of the Spirit moving in him, to be able to make his heart ready to forgive his brothers; but he did.
3. Moses. How many times was he ridiculed by his own people, when he came to Egypt to deliver them? Very similar to how Christ was mocked by the people who He came to save. Moses forgave and moved on.
4. Gideon. This man had many faults, but he still came back to raise Israel up out of slavery, after being sent away from his family.
5. Naomi. She was sad in her heart that her sons and husband had died, but she did not hold it against the Lord.
6. David. In my opinion, one of the greats. He was persecuted so many times, he was patient through trials and tribulations. He never raised a hand against the Lord's anointed, even though he knew that he was heir to the throne. And another example of his forgiveness, when Absalom rose up against him. His own son. Yet David still loved him.
7. Job. This man is also one of my favorites. He never hated his friends or his wife for trying to draw him away from the Lord, he forgave.
8. Last but not least. The prophets of God. Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, and all the rest. They had to have so much patience and forgiveness for the nation, that it was evident that God was working through them.
That is it for the Old Testament! Remember, if these Heros of old can forgive, why can't we? Forgive and let go.
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