Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Bottom Line

Forgive One Another

Scripture

Read 1 John 4:9-12

Devotion 

I don’t know about you, but I’m often guilty of taking for granted the story of God’s forgiveness through Jesus. So when I think about the power of it all, it’s not uncommon for me to resort to another precious camp memory of mine. It doesn’t even have anything to do with my own forgiveness, but rather the observing of a kid who suddenly understood forgiveness for the first time, and it made a lifelong impact on me.

Church camp strategically places the life-changing message of Jesus at a certain moment during the week. It’s positioned at that point during the week where kids and adults have had a couple days to acclimate to the rhythm and develop trust and connection with each other. But it’s early enough to provide kids time to process what they’ve heard and allow plenty of opportunities to pull someone aside to answer their questions and walk them through a decision before the week ends.

So on that typical third night of camp one of the years I went as a chaperone, a boy named Quay responded in a way I never expected. After the story of Jesus’ matchless love and forgiveness was shared from the stage, Quay got up from his seat. He didn’t walk to the front, as some kids choose to do, as a public profession of their new faith. Instead, he looked to the back of the room and began searching for Logan, a leader from our group that he trusted. He frantically scanned the dark room and rows of people. The second Quay spotted Logan, he ran to him and threw himself into the biggest bear hug, and sobbed.

You see, in Quay’s nine years of life, he had navigated more heartbreak and disappointment than any child should have to endure. His dad left when he was a baby, and his mom was caught up in far too many hard circumstances to be able to adequately care for her son. He had spent time in and out of foster care and was currently living with an aunt. The house where he lived with his aunt was just down the street from an older couple from our church, who formed a friendship with Quay and his cousins and began bringing them to church on Sundays.

If you can believe it, that’s the short version. The point is, Quay understood forgiveness through a lens I’ve never had. And watching him put together the pieces and understand that every bit of it comes from God’s sacrificial, unconditional, and never-ending love for him and his family was a moment I will never forget. This is, indeed, how God showed His love among us—in the forgiveness provided through sacrifice, in His unfailing love, and in His call for us to love each other.

Before today, pray for each of the kids you’ve spent time with this week. Maybe there’s someone like Quay. Maybe there’s a kid in your group who will be hearing and understanding God’s forgiveness for the first time. Ask God to help them understand His forgiveness through their own lens of whatever they’re going through. And ask Him to use you in a way God used Logan in Quay’s life, providing a safe space for questions, conversations, or even tear-filled bear hugs.

Prayer 

Dear God, we pray each child will recognize their need for forgiveness and turn to you. May they be full of joy and thankfulness knowing they are forgiven and free in Jesus' name! Please give them the strength to forgive others. We pray children will make a personal decision to trust you and follow you. God may you give us what we need to love and lead them well. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.