Your crown of

love and compassion

Did you know that you have a crown?  God has crowned you with love and compassion (Psalms 103:4).  Your crown has not been given to you as a reward but as a mark and as a symbol of your royalty.  You have God's mark, The Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), and you are God's child (1 John 3:1) - that makes you royalty!

Your Father wants to help you when you are in need and to forgive you when you sin.  Forgiveness, whether human or divine, is an indescribable gift.  And it isn't cheap. 

Because the price is so high (and has already been paid by Jesus), is there anything you can humanly do to earn forgiveness?

Perhaps in the past all you wanted was God's gifts and then you ran your own path often leading to destruction.  Perhaps you yearn to return to God but you're fearful of rejection.  Or maybe you look at others and think or say, "after all the terrible things they have done how can they be forgiven?" 

KNOW THIS, ACCEPT THIS, TRUST THIS, once you ask God for forgiveness "as far as the east is from the west, so far He removed our transgressions from us."  (Psalms 103:12)  Think about that -  as far as the east is from the west, that is infinity....

Sometimes it is hard to accept forgiveness from God.  It is hard to grasp the concept that He remembers our sins no more (Isaiah 43:25).  If you lack assurance ask for God's grace to be able to accept what He has freely and powerfully given to you.  We are not treated as our sins deserve, certainly not with the same harsh judgement that we tend to assess others with . 

Our attitude towards others who are deserving of and need forgiveness must be an example of our Father's mercy and conduct, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity"  (Colossians 3: 12-14).

Forgiveness is a choice.  You can choose to hold on to your hurt, but it will only leave bitterness and anger.  Recall your own weaknesses and failings. If you feel there is someone that you just can't seem to forgive, tell God.  Admit to Him that you have not been able to forgive that person and ask Him to help you follow His example and do what He commands.  It might seem difficult at first but it gets easier with growth and obedience.  Allow the Holy Spirit to soften your heart.  Forgiving frees us as much (maybe more) as those we forgive.  Sometimes we need to forgive people for wrongs that they don't even know they committed or maybe never will acknowledge.

If you need to be forgiven by someone, a right spirit is necessary before you can seek that forgiveness.  A spirit of humility and contrition.  An act of restitution may be needed.  Remember, you can't force someone to forgive you.  Forgiveness is a gift.

Get out there and put your crown of love and compassion on,

you are worthy, you have leadership potential, you are royalty. 

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me 

the crown of  righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—

and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing (2 Timothy 4: 7-8).​​