2) Our Daily Bread for 30 May 2026 titled

Imitating God's Forgiveness

by Sheridan Voysey



Ephesians 4:25-32



Rules for the New Life



25 (Col 3:9; Zec 8:16; Ro 12:5) Therefore, putting away lying, let every man

speak truthfully with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.

26 (Ps 37:8; 4:4) Be angry but do not sin.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

27 (Jas 4:7) Do not give place to the devil.

28 (Ex 20:15; 1Th 4:11-12) Let him who steals steal no more. Instead,

let him labour, working with his hands things which are good,

that he may have something to share with him who is in need.

29 (Col 4:6) Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth,

but only that which is good for building up, that it may give grace

to the listeners.

30 (1Th 5:19; Isa 63:10; Ro 8:23) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,

in whom you are sealed for the day of redemption.

31 (Col 3:8; Ecc 7:9; Col 3:19) Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outbursts,

and blasphemies, with all malice, be taken away from you.

32 (2Co 2:10; Col 3:12-13; Mt 6:12) And be kind one to another,

tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ

also forgave you.



[25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour:

for we are members one of another.

[26] Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

[27] Neither give place to the devil.

[28] Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working

with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that

needeth.

[29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which

is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

[30] And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the

day of redemption.

[31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil

speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

[32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.



I used to work with a woman named Madge, who was an amazing cook. "You should

taste my pea and ham soup!" she said one day. After replying that I really

didn't like peas, Madge smiled and said, "You will after you try my soup."

The next day she handed me a container of her soup, made especially for me.



"Did you try my soup?" Madge asked me a couple of days later. "I will-soon!"

I said, hoping she wouldn't ask me again. But she did - the next day, and the

next. “Don't leave it too long or it'll spoil," she added on the fourth day.



A week later, Madge's uneaten soup had spoiled, and I threw it away. I felt

dread as she approached me. "You did try my soup, didn’t you?" she asked.



"Yes," I said. "It was . . . delicious."



In Ephesians 4, Paul calls us to deal with speech-related sins like angry

words (v. 26), unwholesome talk (v. 29), and slander (v. 31). But before these

comes a more basic call to "speak truthfully to your neighbour" (v. 25).

I had looked at Madge and told her a lie. I knew what I needed to do.



I walked into Madge's office, confessed my lie, and sheepishly asked for her

forgiveness. Madge walked to me and gave me a hug. "Of course I forgive you,"

she said. "How could I not, when I know how much God's forgiven me?"



Reflect & Pray



How many sinful words or actions has God forgiven you for?

How can that reminder help you forgive someone today,

with the Holy Spirit's strength?



Forgiving God, please enable me to forgive others.



For further study, read The Risk of Forgiveness.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 7 Break up Your Fallow Ground



Hosea 10:12



12 Sow to yourselves righteousness, reap mercy,

break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord,

until He comes and rains righteousness upon you.



12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy;

break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD,

till he come and rain righteousness upon you.



When a farmer prepares to plant his crop, a great deal of preparation

is necessary before the seen can be sown. He has to plow up the ground,

turning under the stubble from the previous harvest, harrow the field to

break up the clods, and fertilise- readying the soil for optimum growth.

A fallow field, one that was not planted the previous season, must be

broken and worked so that the seed can find root in the ground.

The Bible likens spiritual growth to raising crops. God is the one

who brings rain and gives growth, but the success or failure

of the seed - both in initial salvation and in ongoing maturity -

is often linked to how well the soil has been prepared.

That preparation isn't always a pleasant or rewarding process.

We may resist the plowing or harrowing that comes through

the Holy Spirit's conviction of sin. We may need to dig up boulders

of bitterness and thistles of anger; we may have to plow under the

stubble of the last crop of lessons, working that mulch deep into our lives.

But the final outcome is worth the effort - even the pain - that

preparation brings. Broken up, harrowed, readied for the seed of God's Word,

we are rich and fertile ground, and the seed of righteousness produces

an abundant crop in us.



Application



a) In what ways have I been "broken up" and "harrowed" by the Holy

Spirit to prepare me for God's work in me?



b) How can I apply these verses to myself? How can I

"sow in righteousness," "reap in mercy," "break up my fallow ground"?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Genesis 30:43



The man became exceedingly prosperous and had many sheep

and female servants and male servants and camels and donkeys.



And the man increased exceedingly, and had much cattle,

and maidservants, and menservants, and camels, and asses.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



When you are anxious



Phil 4:4-7



4 (Php 3:1; Ro 12:12 Rejoice in the Lord always.

Again I will say, rejoice!

5 (Jas 5:8-9) Let everyone come to know your gentleness.

The Lord is at hand.

6 (Eph 6:18; Mt 6:25-33) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything,

by prayer and supplication with gratitude, make your requests known

to God.

7 (Jn 14:27; Col 3:15; Isa 26:3) And the peace of God, which surpasses

all understanding, will protect your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.



4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,

shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13





9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.