Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
This week I was trying to decide what to write about for today's devotional, and decided to hold off until this afternoon and possibly write about what I heard in church. I am so happy I did. It was very convicting for me! You see at my school, like any other, sports is their biggest priority... Well, this coming weekend is the opening for my senior fall play that I star in, and I was terribly upset when I found out our Saturday show would be cancelled if the football team continued to win since it was the playoffs. This happened my sophomore year as well, except my opening night was the show that was cancelled... That could be part of the reason I hate sports so much. I don't enjoy watching them, I don't enjoy doing them, and I don't like the jock reputation that a lot of sport players have (I realize there are some wonderful people that play sports). Well, my thoughts this past week were very negative I guess, because I did NOT want the football team to win since one of the shows would be cancelled if they continued to go ahead. I just wanted them to lose. I am not proud of that outlook, because as a Christian young woman I need to be a light, not a contagoius darkness... I didn't really feel bad for those thoughts though until this morning because I figured, "Hey, they get to play every Friday night, and we only have three shows!" Well, this morning when I was leading a small group of 8th graders I told this very story about this past week, because we were talking about how we can love our enemies. Sure, the football team may not be my enemies, but they aren't my favorite. We see Jesus asking God to forgive the criminals on either side of Him as He hung on the cross. He never did, thought, or said anything wrong to anyone, and yet He is asking God to forgive the criminals that are being hung on the cross with Him, the soldiers that beat him and nailed his hands and feet to the cross, and even His own disciples that denied ever knowing Him. He has gone through SO much pain than our world put together has ever felt and has forgiven each of us, and yet we cannot find the heart to forgive, show compassion, and love others no matter what they have done to us. The football team worked hard just like me and the rest of the cast has, and I should cheer them on for their good work! Join me, and find ways to forgive and show love to our enemies this week!
Dear God, I thank you, because no matter how hard it is for us to forgive and love others it will never compare to what you have done for us. I ask that you will help each of us in our journey to love and forgive our enemies. It is in Jesus' name I pray, amen.
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