About this episode
Pastor Greg Laurie brings us a message on the power of forgiveness, a virtue every Christian should embrace. As he always reminds us, “Forgiven people should be forgiving people.” Hear all he has to say on the matter. Notes 2 Samuel 1 Does God approve or disapprove of us? Our Father in Heaven stands apart from all earthly fathers. David was a warrior, a worshipper, a lover, and a fighter, but he was also wrathful, petty, vengeful, and openly sinful. Be careful what you wish for. You might get it! Read: 2 Samuel 1:23–27 David did not remember Saul's sins! Grace forgives and forgets! The people of Israel wanted peace today! The Israelites were not colonizers because God gave them the land to begin with. Jews are the indigenous people of the land of Judea. David was willing to forgive his enemies and live at peace with them. This is why David is called a man after God's own heart. Read: 2 Samuel 9:2–13 God specializes in taking people who have been dropped in life and picking them back up again! The word kindness could better be translated as "grace." Justice is getting what I deserve. Mercy is not getting what I deserve. Grace is getting what I don't deserve. Just as David reached out to Mephibosheth, God reaches out to us! 2 Samuel 9:5 David was persistent in not giving up on this young man. He didn't just send for him; he brought him. Mephibosheth was afraid when he heard David wanted to see him. 2 Samuel 9:6 David brought Mephibosheth to his table as a member of his royal family. 2 Samuel 9:11 Eating is for a time of sharing and rejoicing. Don't let another person form your view of God. Find out for yourself who God is. So many are kept from a relationship with God by what others say. Forgive your enemies … if they deserve it or not. God took care of the enemies of David. Leave the past in the past. The funny thing about life is that what we think is good may turn out, in time, to be bad, and that which we think is bad now may turn out to be good. Psalm 27:4 David, out of sheer love for Jonathan, demonstrated his grace to his handicapped son. Mephibosheth had nothing, deserved nothing, and could repay nothing. Mephibosheth was adopted as a son and invited to eat at the king's table. Don't let other people form your opinion of God. Keep up with Harvest Crusade details --- Learn more about Greg Laurie and Harvest Ministries at harvest.org . This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners. Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.