ODM Today 6th October 2021
TOPIC: ARCHIE WILLIAMS: FORGIVENESS IS NOBLE AND DIVINE
BASIC SCRIPTURE: LUKE 6: 27-37
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
ODM Today 6th October 2021
For the past 2 days, our focal stories have been on Archie Williams, the man who lost about 37 years of his life in prison for a crime he knew nothing about. Speaking on America’s Got Talent (AGT), he said, “A 30-year-old white woman was raped and stabbed on January 4th. I couldn’t believe it was really happening. I knew I was innocent. I didn’t commit a crime. But being a poor black kid, I didn’t have the ability to fight the state of Louisiana. In another interview he said, ” I always say life is how we feel it. When someone inflicts evil on you, its all about how we let it affect us mentally. If you harbour evil, it can destroy you.
ODM Today 6th October 2021 – ARCHIE WILLIAMS: FORGIVENESS IS NOBLE AND DIVINE
That’s a scientific fact, right there. I never haboured evil-even when I knew the people that put me in prison knew that was innocent. I’m talking about from the top to the bottom, they knew. But I never allowed the evil spirit of it to live in my heart. All the times Archie appeared on AGT, he never expressed anger against his accusers, hate for the authorities who convicted him, or even bitterness about the injustice. He said he had left the past behind him and had chosen rather to forgive. Someone wrote this about him, “Williams is not just free from prison, but he is free within”. Forgiveness is one of the sound doctrines of the Bible. It is a character of God. It is divine. God is a forgiver of sins. The Bible tells us that if God should count iniquities no one will stand. However, with Him there is forgiveness (Psalm 130: 3-4). You only hurt yourself the more when you do not forgive. On the other hand, when you forgive the way God has done to us, you exhibit love and godliness. When you do it the way Archie did, you show forth nobility of character. Today’s scripture catalogues for us what our responses should be when we have been ill-treated. He says we should bless those who curse us, pray for those who despise you, give to those who are indigent, love your enemies and forgive so that you can be forgiven. Jesus did not even put a limit to how many times we can forgive. ODM Today 6th October 2021
Here is what someone wrote on forgiveness. “Forgiveness is a virtue of the righteous person, It is a mark of godliness. The greatest beneficiary of forgiveness is the person who forgives; forgiveness frees us from hate, from using, our energy to plot revenge, from constant and oppressive negativity. And ultimately from mental and physical illnesses.” I am aware that there are wives who have vowed not to forgrve their husbands, and vice versa. I am also aware of the same with neighbours, co-workers, businessmen/women, parents and children, and even sometimes, members of the same congregation. No matter how high the level of hurt, please for your own sake, make some room for forgiveness. That is the way to go.
ONLINE-“MORNING FIRE with Bishop Chris”- Today 6am (Nigeria time). Log on to these prophetic prayers-to-start-your-day, via our new official FACEBOOK PAGE OUR DAILY MANNA WORLDWIDE.” Start following that our new page now. IT WILL INCREASE YOUR PRAYER FIRE; PRAYERS THAT MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
PRAYER POINTS: Take your best song of worship as led.
- Father, give me the grace to forgive (Mention names). Lord, have mercy on me and forgive my shortcomings in Jesus name.
ODM Today 6th October 2021 – ARCHIE WILLIAMS: FORGIVENESS IS NOBLE AND DIVINE
