Imitating God’s Forgiveness

Imitating God’s Forgiveness

Author: Our Daily Bread Ministries May 30, 2026 Duration: 0:00
Our Daily Bread Podcast | Our Daily Bread
ReligionReligion & SpiritualityChristianitySpirituality

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 neighbor” (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?”


Each day, Our Daily Bread Podcast offers a quiet moment of reflection grounded in scripture. Produced by Our Daily Bread Ministries, these brief audio readings are more than just a narration of the devotional; they are an invitation to pause and consider how timeless biblical truths connect to the realities of modern life. You'll hear a thoughtful exploration of a passage, often accompanied by a relatable story or personal insight, all designed to make the wisdom of the Bible accessible and practical. This podcast serves as a gentle daily companion for anyone looking to cultivate a deeper, more consistent engagement with their faith amidst a busy routine. It transforms a few minutes of your day into a space for spiritual nourishment and perspective. Whether during a morning commute, a lunch break, or a quiet evening, each episode provides a focused point of connection, encouraging listeners to carry that sense of peace and purpose forward. The consistent, calm delivery and substantive content have made this a trusted resource for individuals and families seeking to integrate faith into their daily rhythm. By meeting listeners where they are, this audio experience faithfully extends the ministry's long-standing mission of providing daily biblical encouragement.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 46

Official website RSS
Our Daily Bread Podcast | Our Daily Bread
Podcast Episodes
Seeing God's Grandeur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In nineteenth-century poet Gerard Manley Hopkins’ sonnet “God’s Grandeur,” Hopkins celebrates the countless ways creation is “charged”—intensely filled—with “the grandeur of God.” In vivid imagery, Hopkins describes God’…
Good Soil in God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In late spring each year, I plant cucumber seeds in our garden. The seeds produce leaves quickly, but it takes time to see the fruit. In fact, one summer after I watered the seeds and waited, I questioned whether I’d get…
Waiting for the Harvest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In 1962, Joanne Shetler and Anne Fetzer made an arduous trek by bus and foot into the rugged mountains of the Philippines to share the gospel with people who’d never heard of Jesus. For five years, they translated Script…
Growing Our Knowledge of God [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
As soon as I jumped into the pool, my goggles filled with water, and I could barely see. Despite having no formal swimming instruction, I slowly persevered for the two laps of a race I had entered on a whim. As a teenage…
God’s Word Endures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In the early 1900s, successful steel businessman Charles Schwab decided to build perhaps the most lavish mansion in New York City. Completed in 1906, his Riverside Drive estate took its inspiration from French chateaus a…
Jesus Revealed in Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
After Joni Eareckson Tada’s mother died, Joni thought about Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians where he described how our bodies are like “jars of clay” that hold the treasure of Christ’s presence. She mused about a…
Putting On God’s Armor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Nafi and Kamran joined a military coup. They fought for years, and when their side won, were given desk jobs in the capital. It’s not going well. There’s little to do so they go online. Nafi says that many of his comrade…
The Light of Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
In 1905 a scruffy young man holed up in his apartment in Bern, Switzerland, engaging in complex thought experiments regarding the nature of the universe. With frenzied focus, the physicist worked and reworked his calcula…
Faithful in Prayer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
After great-grandma Clara passed away, her ten-foot-long prayer list became a family heirloom. On the long roll of paper were typewritten names of people for whom she prayed regularly. There were many extended family mem…
Fueled by Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
J.D. witnessed amazing sights on his trip to several African nations. His text messages to us from Eastern Zambia included several pictures of faith-filled women who presented their three-year gospel ministry plan. “It i…

«12345»