Beginning the Day Where Mercy Begins

As the Day Begins
Scripture: Luke 23:34 – “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

 MEDITATION

As the day begins and the world wakes to its own rhythms, we are confronted with one of the most staggering statements ever spoken: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke records these words not during a peaceful teaching moment or a quiet evening around a fire, but while Jesus hung suspended between Heaven and earth—rejected by the world He came to save. It is difficult to absorb the weight of that moment. Nails pierce His hands. Pain racks His body. Abandonment surrounds Him. And yet, forgiveness flows from His lips like a river that cannot be dammed. When we begin our morning with this verse, we are stepping into a mystery that transforms our ordinary lives: the mystery of God’s mercy spoken in the middle of human cruelty.

This passage reminds us that forgiveness is not God’s reaction to our repentance—it is His disposition toward our need. Before anyone apologized, before anyone recognized their guilt, before the crowds quieted their mockery, Jesus prayed for forgiveness. This is not sentimental kindness; it is covenant love. It reveals to us that forgiveness, for the Christian, is not rooted in the worthiness of the offender but in the character of the One who forgives. As we enter today, we must recognize how countercultural this is. We live in a world formed by outrage, shaped by grudges, and fueled by retribution. Yet in this single sentence, Jesus invites us to begin our day with a posture radically different from the world’s: a posture of mercy.

Perhaps as you rise this morning, there are names that stir tension in your spirit. Perhaps there are mistakes from yesterday—or long before—that whisper accusations in your mind. Maybe you carry burdens of regret or wounds you have not yet understood. Luke 23:34 speaks directly to these moments. Jesus does not excuse wrongdoing; He exposes its blindness. “They know not what they do.” In those words, He acknowledges pain without surrendering to bitterness. He names injustice without abandoning compassion. He recognizes ignorance without withholding grace. As you step into this day, you are invited not simply to feel forgiven but to live as a forgiven and forgiving person—one who walks in the freedom Christ declared from the cross.

Starting your morning with this scripture means allowing Jesus’ words to become the lens through which you see others and yourself. It means remembering that even when you are misunderstood, hurt, or wronged, you are called to mirror the One who prayed mercy over His enemies. And it means trusting that God begins His healing work not when life is easy, but when grace is chosen. Let today begin where mercy begins: at the foot of the cross, beneath a Savior who forgives before we even know how to ask.

TRIUNE PRAYER  

To the Father:
Father, as this new day opens before me, I come with gratitude that Your heart is more merciful than mine will ever be. You saw humanity in its rebellion, and instead of abandoning us, You sent Your Son to speak forgiveness into our darkness. This morning I ask You to shape my heart after Yours. Teach me not to live from instinctive reactions but from Spirit-formed compassion. Help me to trust Your justice when I face wrongs I cannot fix, and help me to release into Your hands the burdens I am tempted to carry alone. Father, let the grace You showed through Your Son become the grace that guides my steps today.

To the Son:
Lord Jesus, You prayed for forgiveness at the very moment humanity did its worst to You. I stand in awe of Your strength, Your love, and Your willingness to see past the actions of others and recognize the deeper blindness that drives them. I ask You today to live Your mercy through me. Let my words reflect Your gentleness. Let my thoughts be shaped by Your compassion. Let my reactions be softened by the forgiveness You have shown me. Where resentment tries to arise within me, speak again the words You spoke on the cross. Where I am tempted to withhold grace, remind me of how freely You gave it to me. Walk with me closely today, Jesus, and teach me to forgive as You forgive.

To the Holy Spirit:
Holy Spirit, I cannot walk in this kind of forgiveness without Your power living within me. Fill me afresh this morning. Search my heart and reveal places where bitterness lingers or old wounds still speak. Grant me the courage to release what I cannot change and the humility to offer mercy where it seems undeserved. Strengthen me to live out the forgiveness of the cross in practical, tangible ways today. Guide my emotions, steady my reactions, and open my eyes to the people around me who need compassion. Holy Spirit, shape me into a person who reflects the heart of Christ so fully that others see Your work in my life. Lead me into a day marked by peace, grace, and a forgiveness that flows from You.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a way of seeing others through the mercy Jesus offered on the cross. Begin today by choosing grace, and God will shape your heart to reflect His own.

Thank you for beginning your day in God’s presence.

RELEVANT CHRISTIAN ARTICLE LINK

A helpful resource on forgiveness and mercy:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/

#christianForgiveness #dailyDevotions #forgiveness #luke2334 #mercyOfGod #morningDevotional #spiritualFormation

Forgiveness Is The Turning Point.

Forgiveness doesn't make what they did okay. It makes your healing possible. Releasing your pain is not weakness-it's how you rise. This is where restoration begins.
#ForgivenessJourney #ReleaseToHeal #LetGodHealYou #ChristianForgiveness

Walking in Forgiveness: How Letting Go of Past Hurts Frees Your Soul

881 words, 5 minutes read time.

We all carry scars. Some fade with time, others remain tender reminders of wounds that haven’t fully healed. Maybe someone betrayed your trust, spoke words that pierced deep, or simply wasn’t there when you needed them most. Forgiveness, in these cases, feels impossible—or even unjust. But God’s Word tells us that forgiveness isn’t about excusing the wrong. It’s about choosing freedom over bondage. In today’s devotional, we’ll walk together into the liberating, though often difficult, process of forgiving others and releasing the grip of past hurts.

Scripture:

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” — Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

Reflection/Teaching:

Colossians 3:13 is both comforting and confronting. It comforts us by reminding us that God has forgiven us freely and fully through Christ. Yet, it also challenges us to do the same for others. Forgiveness isn’t natural; it’s spiritual. In our own strength, we hold onto pain thinking it protects us. But in reality, it only poisons us. As the saying goes, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.”

Jesus modeled radical forgiveness. While nailed to the cross—abandoned, mocked, and physically broken—He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). If the Savior of the world could extend grace in His darkest hour, how can we, as His followers, withhold it?

This doesn’t mean forgetting the pain or allowing repeated abuse. Forgiveness is not reconciliation; it’s a one-sided spiritual release that hands the offense over to God. As believers, we’re not called to ignore justice, but to trust God with it. Romans 12:19 reminds us, “Do not take revenge…leave room for God’s wrath.”

Many people carry bitterness like a badge of protection. But Hebrews 12:15 warns that a “root of bitterness” can grow and defile many. When we harbor unforgiveness, we block the flow of God’s peace, joy, and love in our lives. We essentially give power to those who hurt us, allowing them to influence our thoughts, decisions, and even relationships. Walking in forgiveness is about reclaiming that power by surrendering the pain to God.

Letting go is a journey. It’s okay if it takes time. Some wounds require daily surrender. But with each step, we become more like Christ—freer, lighter, and more available to love others with open hands and an open heart.

Application:

Are you holding onto pain that God is asking you to release today? Take a moment to identify a name, a face, or a memory that still stings. Instead of stuffing it down or pretending it’s gone, bring it into the light of Christ’s love. Say the person’s name out loud and choose to forgive—not because they deserve it, but because you want to walk in freedom.

Consider journaling your feelings, speaking with a trusted Christian counselor, or praying with a friend. Set healthy boundaries if needed, but keep your heart tender before God. Forgiveness may start with a decision, but it grows as a process.

Today, choose freedom over fury, peace over pain, healing over hatred. You may not feel ready—but you can take the first step. Trust that God will carry you the rest of the way.

Prayer:

Father, I come before You with the weight of wounds I’ve carried for too long. You see the pain. You know the names, the moments, the scars. Today, I surrender them to You. Teach me to forgive as You have forgiven me. I release the bitterness and ask You to fill my heart with Your peace. Heal what is broken, restore what has been lost, and help me walk forward in grace. I trust You with justice. I trust You with healing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Thoughts / Call to Action:

Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door to peace. It may not change your past, but it can radically transform your future. Let today be the start of a new chapter—one marked by grace, not grudges.

If this message spoke to your heart, we invite you to stay connected. Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly devotionals, encouragement, and biblical wisdom to support your walk with Christ. You’re not alone—let’s grow in grace together.

D. Bryan King

Sources

• Bible Verses on Forgiveness and Letting Go of Hurts
• Bible Verses About Letting Go of Hurt
• 30+ Bible Verses About Forgiveness
• 21 Bible Verses for Letting Go
• Forgiveness – Letting Go of the Hurt
• Are You Stuck in the Past? The First Step to Letting Go and Processing Pain with God
• Forgiveness: Healing the Hurt We Never Deserved
• Walking in Forgiveness
• Learning to Walk in Forgiveness
• Forgiving a Deep Hurt
• 10 Quotes To Ponder When Letting Go of the Past
• 5 Ways to Leave Past Hurts Behind as You Enter the New Year
• Forgiving Someone Who Hurt You Deeply
• The Poison of Unforgiveness
• Daily Devotional: The Freedom of Forgiveness
• Matthew 6:14–15

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

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• The Power of Forgiveness in Strengthening Your Faith Date June 12, 2024
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The Forgotten Man: A Parable for a New Generation

1,703 words, 9 minutes read time.

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I had been walking down that same road for years. The same dusty, sun-scorched path that split the barren landscape between my home and the bustling marketplace. In a way, it had become my lifeline—familiar and predictable. I had learned to hate the road, but I also depended on it. It was a place of isolation, a place where my thoughts could be my only company, where I could let my mind wander and get lost in the monotony of daily life.

There were many things I had forgotten over the years: the face of my father, the laughter of my childhood, the warmth of a friendship that had been long extinguished. What I hadn’t forgotten, though, was the road. And one fateful day, I was left to walk it alone.

It started with a quiet whisper in my ear, an enticing invitation to venture out a little further, to see something beyond the ordinary. You see, I had always been a man driven by ambition, by the need for recognition, and by the belief that I deserved more than what my small world had to offer. I had a good life, by many standards—safety, security, and a reputation that made people respect me—but it never felt like enough. There was a hunger in me that was always unsatisfied, a thirst for something more, something greater.

It was this ambition, this longing for more, that led me down the path that would eventually change my life forever.

One day, a wealthy merchant had come to town, and I had heard rumors of the treasures he carried. My instincts told me that if I could make an impression on this man, I could secure my future, maybe even gain the riches I had always dreamed of. But it wasn’t just about the money—it was about the power, the prestige. It was the chance to prove I was better, that I deserved something more than what I had been given.

So, I began planning. I knew that the road to the merchant’s camp was treacherous, but my pride told me that I could navigate it alone. I was no stranger to hardship. In my mind, I was untouchable, invincible even. Nothing could stand in my way. It was my choices, my will, that would determine my fate. I had walked the road countless times before and had survived every challenge. But this time would be different.

I set out early in the morning, my mind filled with the promise of something greater, something beyond my wildest imagination. As the hours passed, I grew increasingly aware of the isolation around me. The silence of the barren hills, the dust in the air, the weight of the sun pressing down upon my skin. But still, I pressed on.

And then, it happened.

A group of bandits emerged from the shadows of the rocks. They surrounded me with the swiftness of predators, their faces masked, their weapons drawn. I tried to fight back, but I was outnumbered. It didn’t take long before I found myself lying on the ground, my body bruised and bloodied. My possessions were taken, my dignity stripped away, and I was left there, half-conscious, alone on the side of the road.

In that moment, I thought to myself, “How could this have happened? How could I have been so careless?” But deep down, I knew the answer. It was my pride, my arrogance, that had brought me here. It was my own choices, my own desire for more, that had led me to this place of ruin. And as the hours passed, the pain only grew worse, the realization of my foolishness sinking deeper into my bones.

I was not the only one who passed by that day. There were others—people I had once called friends, people I had respected. The first was a priest, a man of God. He saw me lying there, wounded and broken, but he kept walking. I remember the look on his face—indifference mixed with a touch of superiority. In his eyes, I was nothing more than a nuisance, a distraction from his holy duties. He passed me by without a second thought.

Next came a Levite, a man of the law, someone who had always been quick to uphold tradition and righteousness. He saw me too, but his response was no different from the priest’s. He crossed to the other side of the road, avoiding me with the same cold detachment. It wasn’t that he didn’t see me; it was that he didn’t care.

But then, something unexpected happened.

A man appeared from the distance. He was a Samaritan—a man from a group that my people had long despised. The Jews and the Samaritans had been at odds for generations, locked in a bitter rivalry that went back centuries. Yet, as this Samaritan approached, something in his eyes told me that he was different.

He didn’t hesitate. He knelt down beside me, his hands gentle as they touched my wounds. I tried to speak, to thank him, but my voice was weak. He didn’t need my gratitude. Instead, he lifted me up, carefully and without judgment, as if I was a brother he had never met before.

The Samaritan didn’t just stop to offer a word of sympathy; he took action. He used his own supplies to bandage my wounds and then helped me onto his donkey. The journey to the nearest inn was slow and painful, but he stayed by my side, never once complaining, never once turning away.

At the inn, he paid for my care, ensuring that I would be well-treated until I had recovered. And before he left, he told the innkeeper that if the cost of my stay exceeded what he had already given, he would cover it. “Take care of him,” he said. “Whatever it costs, I will pay.”

I had been left for dead by those who were supposed to help me—by those who considered themselves righteous, by those who believed they were above the likes of me. But the one person I least expected to show mercy was the one who did.

Then Jesus.

It was in that moment that everything changed for me. The story of the Good Samaritan became more than just words. It was my story. I had once been like the priest, like the Levite, judging others from a distance, thinking that my position in society gave me the right to look down on those who were less fortunate. But in my hour of need, I was shown mercy by the one I had been taught to despise. It was as if God Himself had reached down and pulled me out of the pit I had dug for myself.

I realized that my choices had led me to this place. It wasn’t fate or bad luck. It was my pride, my refusal to see the humanity in others, my selfish desire for more. And now, I had been given a second chance. The Samaritan didn’t owe me anything, yet he gave me everything.

The moral of the story isn’t just about helping those in need. It’s about understanding that we all have a choice—to be like the priest, to be like the Levite, or to be like the Samaritan. We can choose to turn away, to ignore the suffering of others, or we can choose to step into the mess, to offer mercy where it is least expected.

In that moment, I understood what it truly meant to love my neighbor. It wasn’t about who was worthy of my help. It wasn’t about whether or not they fit into my social circle, my ideology, or my expectations. It was about showing kindness, compassion, and mercy to those who need it the most—without conditions, without judgment.

And so, I was left with a choice. I could continue down the road of self-righteousness, clinging to my pride and my ambition. Or I could choose to live differently, to be a neighbor to those who were suffering, to show the same mercy that had been shown to me.

I chose the latter. And though I may never fully repay the Samaritan for his kindness, I have vowed to be a good neighbor to others, just as he was to me. I can only hope that my actions, however small, might one day make a difference in someone else’s life—just as the Samaritan’s actions changed mine.

Now, I see the road differently. It’s no longer a place of isolation and pride, but a reminder of the choices I make and the impact they have on the world around me. And every time I walk it, I remember that no one is beyond mercy, and that love has the power to transform even the most broken of lives.

And so, my story continues—not as one of ambition and pride, but as one of grace, humility, and the redemptive power of compassion. I hope it’s a story worth sharing, not just for me, but for all of us.

D. Bryan King

Sources

• What is the meaning of the Parable of the Good Samaritan?
• Are We Missing the Primary Meaning of the Good Samaritan Story?
• The Good Samaritan Sermon – Luke 10:27-35
• Commentary on Luke 10:25-42 – Good Samaritan – Working Preacher
• Rereading the Parable of the Good Samaritan
• Jesus, Our Good Samaritan: My Sermon on Luke 10:25-37
• Enduring Word Bible Commentary Luke Chapter 10
• Modern Good Samaritan parable. Luke 10:25–37 – The Policy
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan | Preaching Today
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan: On Love | Redeemer Church
• Understanding the Good Samaritan Parable – Biblical Archaeology
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan, a Sermon from R.C. Sproul
• The Parables Of Jesus – The Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25-37)
• 4 Lessons from the Parable of the Good Samaritan
• A modern parable of the good Samaritan?

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely those of the author. The information provided is based on personal research, experience, and understanding of the subject matter at the time of writing. Readers should consult relevant experts or authorities for specific guidance related to their unique situations.

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