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Demonstrating Grace Bible in a Year: Exodus 4–6 Matthew 14:22–36 You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:19 Micah 7:18–20 “In moments where tragedy happens or even hurt, there are opportunities to demonstrate grace or to exact vengeance,” the recently bereaved man remarked. “I chose to demonstrate grace.” Pastor Erik Fitzgerald’s wife had been killed in a car accident caused by an exhausted firefighter who fell asleep while driving home, and legal prosecutors wanted to know whether he would seek the maximum sentence. The pastor chose to practice the forgiveness he often preached about. To the surprise of both him and the firefighter, the men eventually became friends. Pastor Erik was living out of the grace he’d received from God, who’d forgiven him all of his sins. Through his actions he echoed the words of the prophet Micah, who praised God for pardoning sin and forgiving when we do wrong (Micah 7:18. The prophet uses wonderfully visual language to show just how far God goes in forgiving His people, saying that He will “tread our sins underfoot” and hurl our wrongdoings into the deep sea (v. 19). The firefighter received a gift of freedom that day, which brought him closer to God. Whatever difficulty we face, we know that God reaches out to us with loving, open arms, welcoming us into His safe embrace. He “delights to show mercy” (v. 18. As we receive His love and grace, He gives us the strength to forgive those who hurt us—even as Pastor Erik did. Reflect & Pray How do you respond to this story of amazing forgiveness? Can you think of someone you need to forgive? If so, ask God to help you. Father God, You love us without ceasing, and You delight to forgive us when we return to You. Envelop us with Your love, that we might demonstrate grace to those who hurt us. 
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Joe and I had a restless night and I finally drifted off a little after 3, to be awakened by a phone call at 6:30 from my daughter whose husband died Monday. We talked for over an hour and a half, and she told me that her husband, may have sensed his home-going for quite some time. During the past year, he had made calls to people from his past to make any amends of hurts that might have lingered.... to seek and give forgiveness. He was a strong, quiet man, who walked as close to God as any person I know and set an example for his flock by living the words that he preached. Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.
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