3:13 (Colossians)

“bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”  Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Lord God, we confess how we struggle with forgiveness. But it is a most evident expression of Jesus’ uncreated divine life. When Jesus, as an innocent man, cried out on the cross, for God the Father to forgive the mob that demanded his crucifixion, and the Roman soldiers who scourged Him and nailed Him to the cross for being the true King of Kings of humanity, He displayed what is not possible with man. Lord God, You know all our struggles, we lift up in prayer especially Your Children in Japan who are married to unbelieving spouses and or are sons and daughters of unbelieving parents. We pray for the living out daily of Your forgiveness even as they endure hardship, rejection, and ridicule. I pray for tender mercies that Your life lived out may touch the hearts of their families. It is not just a matter of heaven or hell, it is truly a matter of the limitations of man or the boundless life of Christ. And though persecution is promised for true followers of Christ, our Lord Jesus promised hundred-fold return for losses and in the age to come, eternal life.* Lord God, You also told us to forgive those who sin against us as You have forgiven us of all our sins against You. You command us to forgive as You Life in us has given us grace and empowered us to do so. So, Lord God, grant us all the grace to lay hold of your forgiving ways and enable us all, including our dear brothers and sisters in Japan to live out forgiveness in our lives today. So Jesus’ life in righteousness can be seen in us all.

In Jesus’ wondrous name. 

*Mark 10:29-30