The Bountiful Gift of Forgiveness

Matthew 1:21
The angel told Joseph, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Romans 5:15-16
15And what a difference between our sin and God's generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God's bountiful gift. NLT

Luke 23: 33, 34 … they crucified him, along with the criminals. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

My Faithful Father~
The bountiful gifts You give are unbelievable! Thank You for the wonderful gift of forgiveness. It arrived when I was wondering aimlessly, staring death in the face, and destined for hell. Not knowing which way to turn, I desperately cried out to You for help. In Your infinite compassion and mercy, You heard my plea and answered, leading me to Your Son.

Laying down all the shattered pieces of my life, I knelt at the foot of the cross. There, Your precious Son shamefully hung in excruciating pain, exhausted, and asphyxiated. As the crimson blood and pure water from His open wounds dripped on me, He begged You to forgive those who drove the nails into his hands. Sadly, I was one of them! My sins held Him there!

Let those Words, "Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing," penetrate the hollow of my heart and sink deep into my brain this Christmas. No matter what I’ve done in the past, I am completely forgiven. At the foot of the cross, You gently, meticulously and painstakingly picked up each devastated piece of my life and masterfully restored my lustrous allure.

This Christmas I want to accept the wonderful gift of forgiveness. It comes with a huge responsibility. If I accept it, I must give it away. Because You bought it for me with Your bruised, battered, and broken body, You expect me to pardon people who have inflicted me with pain. No hurt I endure on earth can compare to the agony of Your death on the cross. Thank you, Father, for giving me Your Son to save me from the absolute misery of eternal punishment. I am utterly unworthy of such an inconceivable gift.

Since my sins have been forgiven in Your name, please empower me to pass the wonderful gift of forgiveness to someone undeserving this Christmas for the honor of Your glorious name! Amen.

Because I have accepted Your gift of forgiveness, I will forgive ______________________ for the glory of Your name. Fill in the blank and obey, for it is written: "if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." Matthew 6:14