Forgiveness
Let us all celebrate the fact that the Feast of Atonement is almost upon us!
The Feast of Atonement is one of the seven feasts that the Lord created for his believers to celebrate and live. There are many different dimensions in what seems to be a very simple feast. It’s atonement - time to repent for the sins that we have committed and the times that we have transgressed the commandments of Yahweh.
However, the dimension in focus this week will be partly in accordance with this verse:
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Colossians 3:13
Colossians 3:13 gives us an entire message in itself, very integral to the feast of Atonement. This feast isn’t just about your relationship with the Lord, your God. This is also a feast that has to do with the people in your surroundings. The people in your life that you haven’t made up with. It’s the time in the year that the Lord has destined for you to repair those relationships and to be able to look ahead.
The reasoning behind is that your relationship with the Lord partially hinges upon your relationship with others.
How do you manage to have a good relationship with a God you have not seen, but enmity with your neighbor? It’s nonsensical in nature. Yeshua says in His prayer that the Father should “forgive us for our transgressions the same way that we forgive others”. That means that we must have good relationships with everyone: every little inch of animosity gone. As well, as we enter the end of the festival year and God’s presence with the Feast of Tabernacle, we must be clean and able to truly be with Him, not held back by the pain and hurt feelings of the past.
Associated Bible Verses: James 2:13, Mark 11:25, Leviticus 23:26:32
Think About It: Is there anyone in your life that you feel like you haven’t forgiven? Is there anyone in your life you feel like you should ask forgiveness to? What wrongs have you done to others that you haven’t forgiven yourself for? Is forgiveness something that is easy for you to do?
Prayer: This week, pray for the Feast of Forgiveness: so that you may be able to ask for forgiveness and give it as well. Pray for healing in that respect. Spend time with the Lord so that you can be examined by the Spirit and be made right with Him and all other people.