Jonathan Moore
James 4:14-17
How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
"Lord willing" should not be a throwaway phrase for the believer. Our lives should be governed by the desire to align with God's purposes and to do what He wills when He wants us to. In order for that to happen, there has to be a degree of self-surrender, that I struggle with everyday. I mistakenly imagine that I get to 'triage' the promptings of the Holy Spirit, rather than respond in simple obedience. Each day will be a challenge in that regard. "Not my will but yours be done"!
BEGINNING AND ENDING
Genesis 43:7
“And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?”
King James Version (KJV)
✝️ Forgiveness in a Time of Division
Scripture Reading
Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Matthew 6:14–15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Sermon Message
We live in a world marked by division. Families are strained, communities are fractured, nations unsettled. The headlines remind us daily of conflict and bitterness. Yet in the midst of this, God calls His people to a radical response: forgiveness.
Forgiveness Is Commanded, Not Optional Jesus taught that if we forgive others, our heavenly Father will forgive us. Forgiveness is not a suggestion; it is the very heartbeat of the gospel. We are forgiven so that we might forgive.
Forgiveness Breaks the Cycle of Bitterness Bitterness is like a chain that binds us. When we refuse to forgive, we carry the weight of anger and resentment. But forgiveness releases us — it sets us free. Scripture calls us to put away all bitterness and instead be kind and compassionate, forgiving one another just as God forgave us in Christ.
Forgiveness as a Witness to the World In a time when retaliation and outrage dominate the culture, forgiveness is a radical testimony. When we forgive, we show the world that there is a better way — the way of Christ. Even on the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” If He could forgive in His suffering, surely we can forgive in our daily struggles.
Practical Steps Toward Forgiveness
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Begin with prayer: ask God to soften your heart.
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Name the hurt honestly, but release the debt to God.
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Practice gratitude — thanksgiving shifts our focus from pain to blessing.
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Take small steps of reconciliation when possible, trusting God with the outcome.
Conclusion Forgiveness is not weakness; it is strength rooted in Christ. It is not forgetting; it is choosing to release. It is not excusing; it is trusting God to be the ultimate judge. And when we forgive, we declare that God’s grace is greater than human failure.