FORGIVE ALWAYS

Monday - December 21, 2020

Posted
“And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” – Mark 11:25
 
On 31 March 1999, Steven Gonzales, Andrew Ramirez, and Andrew Stone were captured while serving with the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment as part of a peacekeeping NATO force in Kosovo. 
In response to the soldiers’ capture, the Reverend Jesse Jackson and a delegation of religious leaders flew to Yugoslavia to negotiate their return.
On 2 May 1999, the men were released. But before leaving Kosovo, Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone of Smiths Creek, Michigan, and Specialist Steven M. Gonzales of Huntsville, Texas – told news media "they had developed friendships with their captors, felt fondly about them and had prayed with them before they left". Christopher Stone said he had told one of the soldiers looking after him that he “hoped that war would not separate them and that the two countries and the two armed forces would not be forced to be enemies.”
 
No matter what life may throw your way, forgive others. Do not hold a grudge! Today in prayer, thank the Lord for His forgiveness and forgive others as the Lord has forgiven you.
 
“The man who is truly forgiven and knows it, is a man who forgives.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones 
 
God’s Word: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12