The Touch of Grace: A Devotional on Forgiveness

 

“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us”. (Matthew 6:12, NLT)

History tells us of Pericles, the great Greek statesman who lived five centuries before Christ, and how he responded to a persistent critic who seemed determined to make his life miserable. Each day, Pericles would walk from his home to the Athenian assembly, where he conducted public affairs. One particular day, a political opponent—filled with anger and resentment—waited along Pericles' route and unleashed a torrent of insults and threats upon him.

This wasn't a momentary outburst. When Pericles finished his duties at the assembly, the same man was waiting at the door, continuing his verbal assault all the way to a friend's house, where Pericles had been invited for dinner. Like a persistent shadow, this critic followed him throughout the entire day, never ceasing his offensive outbursts. As evening fell and Pericles made his way home, the harassment continued right to his doorstep.

Finally, in the darkness, the man tossed a few final insults at the closed door and began to retreat down the street. As he walked away, he noticed someone approaching with a torch cutting through the night's darkness. Curious and perhaps wary, he asked, "Who are you?"  The reply came with stunning grace: "I am a servant of Pericles. He sent me to light your way home safely."

How easy it is to feel the sting of bitterness when someone wounds us deeply. How natural it seems to carry that pain like heavy baggage, dragging it behind us wherever we go. But when we choose to shoulder this excess weight from our past, we inflict damage not only upon ourselves but upon those we love most.

As a pastor, I have witnessed the devastating effects of unforgiveness. I know people who, to this very day, nurse grudges over wounds inflicted 20, even 30 years ago. The details remain as fresh in their minds as if the offense happened yesterday. Some maintain detailed mental lists of those who have wronged them, secretly hoping for the day when they might extract their revenge.

This burden of bitterness becomes a prison of our own making. It colors every relationship, shadows every joy, and steals the peace that God intends for His children. The person who hurt us moves on with their life, often unaware of the ongoing pain they caused, while we remain chained to that moment of offense.

Perhaps you recognize yourself in this description. Maybe you know someone trapped in this cycle of resentment. If so, consider these powerful words from the Apostle Paul: "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32). These words are remarkably simple to understand yet incredibly difficult to put into practice. Forgiveness is never easy—anyone who claims otherwise has likely never faced deep betrayal or profound hurt. But here's the beautiful truth: what God commands, He also makes possible through His strength and grace.

When God calls us to forgive, He doesn't ask us to accomplish this in our own power. He provides the very grace we need to extend grace to others. The same divine love that reached down to forgive our countless sins against a holy God becomes the fountain from which we can draw mercy for those who have sinned against us.

Forgiveness doesn't mean we become doormats or pretend the offense never happened. It doesn't require us to immediately trust those who have broken our trust or to put ourselves in harm's way again. Rather, forgiveness is a decision to release our right to revenge and to entrust justice to God. This process may take time—sometimes considerable time. It may require the wisdom and guidance of a counselor or spiritual advisor. Some wounds run so deep that healing comes only in seasons, layer by layer, as God does His restorative work in our hearts.

But regardless of how severe the offense is, forgiveness remains possible. The God who forgave David's adultery and murder, who pardoned Paul's persecution of the church, who extended mercy to Peter despite his denial—this same God offers us the strength to forgive even the most grievous wrongs committed against us.

Like Pericles sending his servant with a torch to guide his critic safely home, we are called to be light bearers in a dark world. When we choose forgiveness over bitterness, grace over grudges, we become living testimonies to the transforming power of God's love. This doesn't make us weak—it makes us strong with the strength that comes from above. It doesn't make us foolish—it makes us wise with divine wisdom. It makes us free.

May the Lord bless you and keep you always as you walk this difficult but life-giving path of forgiveness.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, You know the hurts I carry and the grudges I've held. You understand the depth of pain that others have caused me, and you see how that pain has affected my heart. I confess that forgiveness feels impossible in my own strength.  Give me Your grace to begin this healing journey. Help me to release those who have wronged me into Your capable hands. Teach me to trust Your justice while extending Your mercy. Transform my heart from stone to flesh, from bitterness to blessing. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

Discovering and Using Our God-Given Talents

 

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

One of the greatest truths of Scripture is that God has uniquely gifted each one of us. Every believer has been entrusted with a talent, a gift, or an ability—not by accident, but by God’s design. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 reminds us that God distributes gifts according to His wisdom. He knows who we are, what we can handle, and how He can use us for His glory.

The gifts God gives are not for our personal gain or to sit idle. They are tools placed in our hands to serve others and to reflect the beauty of His grace. When we surrender our abilities to Him—whether it’s teaching, encouraging, serving, creating, or leading—He multiplies the impact far beyond what we could accomplish on our own.

Every day, we should ask: “Lord, what can I do for You today?” This question transforms the way we view our jobs, schools, homes, and neighborhoods. Service is not confined to Sunday mornings or church programs; it’s about transforming ordinary places into sacred spaces where God’s love is made visible through us.

Think of it this way: when you use your God-given talent in His strength, you’re not just “doing something”—you’re participating in kingdom work. Washing dishes, tutoring a child, lending a listening ear, building something with your hands, or offering encouragement to a weary soul—each becomes an act of worship when done for God’s glory.

Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner and missionary, once said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” What about you? When you sing, teach, organize, serve, or create—do you sense God’s delight? Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” This doesn’t mean God gives us everything we want; it means He aligns our desires with His will, filling us with joy when we live out the purpose He planted within us.

Sadly, many people never discover this joy. They live weighed down by stress or distracted by lesser pursuits. Yet God has already placed seeds of purpose in every heart. When nurtured, those seeds blossom into fruitful service for His kingdom.

Overcoming the Enemy’s Lies

Perhaps you’ve wondered, “But what if I don’t have any real talents?” That thought is a lie from the enemy. Satan wants to keep believers sidelined by convincing them they have nothing to offer. But Scripture tells us differently. Romans 12:6–8 reminds us that every believer has a gift, whether it’s encouragement, generosity, leadership, or acts of mercy.

Your gift may not look flashy, but it matters deeply to God. A kind word spoken at the right moment may lift someone from despair. A meal prepared in love may speak louder than a sermon. Small acts, when surrendered to God, become holy offerings.

Our talents, however, aren’t powered by human effort alone. Jesus reminds us in John 15:5: “Apart from me you can do nothing.”  Without Him, our talents are like cars without fuel. But when we rely on His Spirit, He breathes life into our service, multiplies our efforts, and uses us in ways we could never imagine.

And here’s the key: these gifts don’t belong to us. We are stewards, not owners. They are entrusted to us for a time, to be used faithfully until the Master returns. Success is not measured by how much we accomplish, but by our faithfulness to use what we’ve been given for His glory.

What can you place in God’s hands today? Your voice? Your time? Your resources? Your creativity? Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Start where you are, with what you have. Even the smallest offering can make a kingdom-sized difference when surrendered to Christ.

Complete this sentence in your heart: “When I _______, I feel God’s pleasure.” Then commit to using that talent this week for God’s glory. Remember—you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You were created in Christ for good works prepared in advance for you (Ephesians 2:10). Your talents are not accidents; they are divine assignments. Use them, and you will not only bless others but also experience the joy of walking in God’s perfect purpose for your life

May the Lord bless you, may the Lord keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your spirit.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

The Focus of Worship: The Lord

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. (Psalm 92:1–4)

Most coaches, musicians, and craftsmen will tell you the same thing: how you practice determines how you play. If you’re careless in practice, you won’t magically become sharp when it’s time to perform. The same is true in our walk with Christ—how you worship will determine how you live.

But what exactly is worship? For some, it’s an event they attend: “We went to worship.” For others, it’s music; "We need to spend more time in worship” often means more singing. Still others equate worship with certain expressions—lifting hands, clapping, dancing, or simply “feeling something.”

Now, these things can all be part of worship. But none of them guarantees that true worship has taken place. Worship is not about emotions or experiences—it’s about God Himself. True worship exalts the Lord. It bends our hearts in love and submission to Him. Worship is never about what we get from God, but about who He is.

Psalm 92:1–4 reminds us of three reasons God is worthy of our worship:

1. His unfailing love.
   Human love, even at its best, is imperfect and inconsistent. We love selfishly, expecting something in return. But God’s love never wavers, never fades, never gives up. He always seeks our best and draws us to Himself, even when we resist Him. His love is perfect and unchanging.
2. His faithfulness.
   Life often brings seasons where we wonder, “God, where are You?” We face loss, disappointment, or pain, and it seems like God is silent. But His promises never fail. Even when we don’t understand His ways, He remains steady, trustworthy, and true. Unlike people who break promises, God keeps every single one.
3. His generosity and grace.
   Every day we are showered with blessings we don’t deserve, food and shelter, people to love, the beauty of nature, the joy of truth, and even freedom from things we may never realize He protected us from. His kindness far exceeds anything we could ever earn.

Because of who God is, worship should not be a chore—it should be a joy. Yet too often Christians treat worship as duty, not delight. We grumble, critique, or go through the motions, forgetting that worship is a privilege. When we worship half-heartedly, our lives follow the same pattern. When worship is focused on self, we end up practicing the most dangerous idolatry of all.

So pause and ask yourself: Have you taken time to consider how deeply God loves you? His love for you isn’t based on your goodness, but on His. You are not the pursuer—He is. He is chasing after you, longing for you to know Him, love Him, and worship Him, because only in Him will you find the true joy your soul longs for.

Joy doesn’t come from possessions, success, or circumstances. Joy comes from the Lord Himself. And when we realize that worship will no longer feel like an obligation, it will become the natural response of a grateful heart.

May the Lord bless you, may the Lord keep you, and may the Lord use these words to renew your Spirit.

Dr. Dimas Castillo

 

 

The Vine and Branches: Abiding in Christ

 

“I am the vine, and you are the branches. Whoever abides in me, as I in them, will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing... And this is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  (John 15:5-13)

Take a moment to breathe deeply. Let the weight of today's demands settle for now. Families today face numerous responsibilities and demands from every direction. Many homes require two incomes just to make ends meet, and the cost of living continues to rise. We spend most of our time treading water, uncertain which way we're swimming, knowing only that if we stop, we might drown. Yet in this sacred pause, we remember that even in our busiest seasons, we are invited to abide.

Picture a vine with its branches swaying gently in the breeze. Notice how the branches don't strain to stay connected—they simply remain, drawing life effortlessly from their source. The word "abide" appears eleven times in John 15, each occurrence an invitation to rest in relationship rather than exhaust us in performance.

Christ calls us not to swim harder through life's currents, but to remain connected to the source of all life. What would it look like today to abide rather than strive?

First, we cultivate an intimate relationship with God. This relationship becomes the anchor of our lives, our security, bringing peace to hearts that often feel anxious and overwhelmed. Intimacy with God in busy seasons may not look like long hours in prayer, but conscious moments of connection woven throughout our day. God meets us in carpools and at kitchen sinks, during brief morning moments before the day begins, in the quiet spaces between our responsibilities.

Second, we nourish ourselves through prayer. Like a vine drawing life continuously from its roots, we need consistent spiritual nourishment. Our prayers need not be perfect or lengthy to sustain us. They can be the whispered "help me" between meetings, the grateful pause over a meal, the bedtime surrender of our worries. Prayer brings God's provision near and offers strength and security when difficult times arise. A vine that doesn't receive nourishment withers—that's why we must connect with God's nourishing presence.

Third, we trust in God's direction. We must have faith that believes in a truth so powerful it shapes how we live. In seasons of financial pressure and family demands, this truth becomes our compass: God sees our struggles, God provides for our needs, God leads us forward. Faith asks us to believe God's direction is trustworthy, even when we can't see the full path ahead, even when we feel lost in life's demands.

Finally, we remember love as our greatest calling. As Paul writes, "Now abide faith, hope, and love, these three. But the greatest of these is love." Love is not another burden on our endless to-do lists, but the very essence of abiding in Christ. When we remain connected to Christ's love for us, love for others flows naturally. This includes love for ourselves—the grace to rest, to receive help, to embrace our imperfections without shame.

True love, as Jesus teaches, is giving our lives for others. But this giving flows from fullness, not emptiness. When we abide in the vine, we bear fruit naturally, not through striving but through remaining.

In this moment, rest in this liberating truth: You are a beloved branch, held securely by the vine. Your worth is not measured by your productivity but found in your connection to Christ. Your peace doesn't come from having everything figured out, but from remaining close to the One who does.

May the Lord bless you and keep you. May you find, even amid life's relentless demands, sacred moments of abiding that renew your spirit and restore your weary soul.

 Dr. Dimas Castillo