1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,675 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,995 --> 00:01:17,995 Speaker 2: Welcome to this special abide Easter meditation. I'm Bonnie Curry. 12 00:01:19,275 --> 00:01:23,195 Speaker 2: Have you ever looked at your life and wondered if 13 00:01:23,235 --> 00:01:27,395 Speaker 2: you were too tarnished to be accepted by a holy God? 14 00:01:28,395 --> 00:01:36,795 Speaker 2: Take a deep, relaxing breath, prepare to meditate on the 15 00:01:36,995 --> 00:01:46,675 Speaker 2: incomprehensible love of God. Jesus answered that question on the Cross. 16 00:01:48,435 --> 00:01:57,355 Speaker 2: He took the punishment for every one of your sins, past, present, 17 00:01:58,315 --> 00:02:05,355 Speaker 2: and future. He also forgave the very people who had 18 00:02:05,475 --> 00:02:10,795 Speaker 2: driven the nails in his hands and his feet. As 19 00:02:10,795 --> 00:02:17,155 Speaker 2: he hung there, every breath was a struggle. Every word 20 00:02:17,435 --> 00:02:26,835 Speaker 2: he spoke brought immense pain. Blood covered his body. The 21 00:02:26,915 --> 00:02:33,155 Speaker 2: soldiers were mocking him, Yet while he was dying an 22 00:02:33,195 --> 00:02:45,115 Speaker 2: excruciating death, he expressed compassion for his executioners. This is 23 00:02:45,155 --> 00:02:48,995 Speaker 2: what Jesus said while hanging on the cross, as recorded 24 00:02:49,035 --> 00:02:56,035 Speaker 2: in Luke twenty three, verse thirty four. Father, forgive them, 25 00:02:57,315 --> 00:03:01,995 Speaker 2: for they do not know what they are doing. And 26 00:03:02,075 --> 00:03:09,115 Speaker 2: they divided up his clothes by casting lots. The soldiers 27 00:03:09,195 --> 00:03:14,675 Speaker 2: had just crucified the savior of the world, the very 28 00:03:14,715 --> 00:03:22,675 Speaker 2: being who had created them, who had given them life. Jesus, 29 00:03:22,715 --> 00:03:31,755 Speaker 2: though forgave them, dear one. Christ's power to forgive has 30 00:03:31,955 --> 00:03:38,715 Speaker 2: no limits. It's infinite. As he hung on the cross 31 00:03:38,835 --> 00:03:44,835 Speaker 2: at Golgatha, he looked into the future at every one 32 00:03:45,395 --> 00:03:49,155 Speaker 2: of your sins, and he covered them with his blood. 33 00:03:50,635 --> 00:03:59,715 Speaker 2: He forgave your sins, all of them. Let's pray, Jesus. 34 00:04:00,795 --> 00:04:03,875 Speaker 2: I am in awe of what you've done for me. 35 00:04:05,755 --> 00:04:10,315 Speaker 2: You loved me in spite of my sin. You died 36 00:04:10,475 --> 00:04:14,675 Speaker 2: on the cross for me, even though you knew that 37 00:04:14,795 --> 00:04:20,235 Speaker 2: I would at times reject you. Thank you for your 38 00:04:20,395 --> 00:04:27,755 Speaker 2: grace and mercy in my life. Thank you for pursuing me. 39 00:04:29,875 --> 00:04:37,715 Speaker 2: Thank you for loving me when I was unlovable. Jesus 40 00:04:39,435 --> 00:04:43,955 Speaker 2: I want to be more like you. I want to 41 00:04:44,035 --> 00:04:48,955 Speaker 2: forgive as you forgive, and to love as you love. 42 00:04:49,955 --> 00:04:55,395 Speaker 2: Guide me, walk with me. I love you, Lord. Amen. 43 00:04:57,195 --> 00:05:04,235 Speaker 2: All right, take a deep, relaxing breath inhaling through your 44 00:05:04,355 --> 00:05:12,675 Speaker 2: nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth. Hand all your 45 00:05:12,715 --> 00:05:20,395 Speaker 2: troubles to God, all of them. Ask him to shower 46 00:05:20,515 --> 00:05:30,115 Speaker 2: you with his peace and patience. Perhaps the story of 47 00:05:30,275 --> 00:05:36,675 Speaker 2: Jesus forgiving others reminds you of someone you haven't forgiven, 48 00:05:38,515 --> 00:05:42,355 Speaker 2: or maybe there are other sins you need to confess 49 00:05:42,515 --> 00:05:54,315 Speaker 2: to God. Confess your sin to your creator, to our 50 00:05:54,595 --> 00:06:02,115 Speaker 2: sinful ears. The forgiveness of Jesus is shocking. The soldiers 51 00:06:02,475 --> 00:06:07,595 Speaker 2: were killing him, yet he was forgiving them. His words 52 00:06:07,915 --> 00:06:11,995 Speaker 2: were directed at the soldiers, but they were meant for 53 00:06:12,275 --> 00:06:17,675 Speaker 2: you too. Listen as I read Luke twenty three, verse 54 00:06:17,755 --> 00:06:23,275 Speaker 2: thirty four in the New International version. As I read this, 55 00:06:24,715 --> 00:06:33,155 Speaker 2: imagine Jesus saying these words about you. Jesus said, Father, 56 00:06:34,195 --> 00:06:39,635 Speaker 2: forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. 57 00:06:40,515 --> 00:06:45,595 Speaker 2: And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Dear Jesus, 58 00:06:47,155 --> 00:06:53,075 Speaker 2: I don't have the words to describe my feelings right now. 59 00:06:53,115 --> 00:06:54,795 Speaker 2: All I can say is. 60 00:06:57,755 --> 00:06:58,115 Speaker 3: Thank you. 61 00:07:00,795 --> 00:07:05,475 Speaker 4: Thank you for loving me even before I was born. 62 00:07:08,035 --> 00:07:13,395 Speaker 4: Thank you for saving my soul when all I deserved 63 00:07:13,475 --> 00:07:19,115 Speaker 4: was death. Thank you for forgiving my sins. 64 00:07:21,515 --> 00:07:26,555 Speaker 3: Teach me to see people the way you see people. 65 00:07:27,835 --> 00:07:34,875 Speaker 2: With compassion. Guide my path, help me to shine your 66 00:07:34,995 --> 00:07:41,435 Speaker 2: light wherever I go. It's in the precious holy name 67 00:07:41,475 --> 00:07:51,315 Speaker 2: of Jesus that I pray. Amen, Your sins are forgiven, 68 00:07:52,395 --> 00:07:54,795 Speaker 2: all of them. 69 00:07:54,835 --> 00:08:00,355 Speaker 3: This week. Walk boldly with the peace and joy of Christ, 70 00:08:02,035 --> 00:08:06,835 Speaker 3: and when you're wrong, practice the forgiveness of Jesus. 71 00:08:09,835 --> 00:08:14,515 Speaker 2: Until next time, May you abide in Christ.