Matthew 28:9-11

Suddenly Jesus met the women coming from the empty tomb. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” – Matthew 28:9-11

Dear Jesus,

You told those women to go tell your brothers to meet you in Galilee.  If they had done to me what they did to you, I would not have easily called them brothers.  But then again, that proves how much I need you more than you need me.  Your love and friendship is constant.  Your grace is never ending.  Your mission mindedness includes friends who have failed you.  You never stop loving and restoring.  I feel like your brother when I read this story even though I have let you down.  I believe you still love me too.  Accept my thanks and praise and give me the power to love people who have let me down as much as you love me. 

AMEN

Pastor Don Patterson

Once you realize that Jesus loves you with durable forgiveness, you entertain what it would be like to let him make you more durable in your forgiving of others.