[Membersandfriends] Saturday, November 27, 2004

Fri Nov 26 22:02:04 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Saturday, November 27, 2004

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The Gift that Lasts All Year

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FORGIVEN
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Matthew 6:14-15 (NRSV)

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

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Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
- Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
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KIM stood at the front of our sixth-grade classroom looking nervous and hopeful as our teacher introduced her.  When her eyes met mine, I smiled.  She smiled back.  I thought I had found a new friend.  But by the end of her first day it became clear that Kim was our new class outcast, a prime target for bullying and ridicule.  Being low on the totem pole myself, I joined in my peers' malice, hoping to boost my own status.  I contributed to Kim's misery every chance I got, even picking fights with her.

Somehow, though, between sixth grade and high-school graduation, Kim and I became friends.  We played sports together, hung out together, even spent the night at each other's houses. Amazingly, Kim forgave all of my nasty comments and hurtful acts.  She took me as a friend, and we remain in contact today.

For me, Kim is an example of the forgiveness and love God wants us to demonstrate to each other.  She embodied the spirit of forgiveness that Jesus taught, even though when we were younger I could not humble myself to ask for that forgiveness.

Prayer:   Dear Lord, help us learn from and live by the examples you set before us.  Thank you for loving and forgiving us, and help us follow where you lead.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Forgiveness and kindness can make enemies into friends.

-- Laura Bagley (Georgia, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: New students

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RELATED READING ...

GOD GOES TO COLLEGE: Living Faith on Campus provides spiritual support for Christian college students. The reality-based and Christ-centered essays in this companion for the college years will help students grow in their relationship with God.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=109739

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The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.