Episode 122

TODAY’S READING:

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Mark 11:25

 

Cancel, Cancel Culture

 

Forgive others. It’s really the thing that sets Jesus apart. He forgave the people who prosecuted him even when they did not know what they were doing.

 

Here’s the thing, Cancel Culture is nothing new to Jesus. One week before the crucifixion, he rode into town on a donkey, and they laid palms on the floor. They treated him like a KING like the King He is, and just one week later, they persecuted him. They sent him to a cross; they sent him to death. They called him all kinds of names. The crowd was angry. That was the true definition of mob mentality.

 

In today’s era, cancel culture has crept its way into every conversation. Celebrities are wiped off the face of the earth, CEO’s companies can crumble overnight. Directors are removed from their films. This behavior has crept its way into our very families.

 

One of my favorites takeaways from the Bible is to forgive others, to love on others, to pray for others. Do not hold resentment.

 

Don’t get me wrong, Call out evil for evil, but do not forget that sin is sin, and we all fall short of perfection.

 

At the end of the day, when you hold onto offense, the one getting hurt is you. We’ve said it on here before.

 

I pray today as you go about your day, you look at the world around you, and you choose to see it through the lens of Jesus.

 

I pray you to look at those that society prosecutes and your prayers for them. You pray for the state of the world. You pray for your leaders. But on a smaller level, when your friend or family member does something that makes you feel as if you need to remove them from your life, pray for them.

 

Pray for the brother and sister who tormented you. Or the ones that isolated you. Pray for your parents that did their best. Pray for anyone you may hold something over. Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

 

PRAYER

Jesus, we look to you for strength and advice when facing difficult days. We need your love to fill us when we are quick to judge others. This world has a way of isolating others for their mistakes, and Jesus, we know we make mistakes every day. We know there is always a safe place in your arms, so remind us to find shelter in you. Remind us to see others how we see them before we are quick to name call or dismantle their legacy. It starts with us. Forgive us as we start forgiving others. It is in your Holy Name that we pray, Amen!