England's historic Coventry Cathedral was devastated when Nazi planes blitzed it during World War II. In the middle of the ruins, the authorities placed a huge cross made from two charred beams of wood. On that cross were engraved the words, "Father, forgive." Not the three familiar words of Jesus, "Father, forgive them" (Lk. 23:34). No, just "Father, forgive."

The fact that the word them is omitted reminds us that not only did the Nazis who ordered that appalling destruction need forgiveness, so do all of us. From our perspective, some wrongdoings may strike us as trivial--say, a "little white lie"--while other sins loom up as huge abominations--like Hitler's Holocaust or Stalin's Gulag.

Only God can determine if one sin is greater than another. But one thing is clear: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). God's standard of perfect obedience is revealed in Jesus Christ. All of us, whether victims or perpetrators, stand in helpless need of His divine forgiveness (v.10).

The glorious message of the gospel is that God has provided salvation to everyone who accepts His Son Jesus Christ (6:23; 8:1; 10:9-13).  — Vernon C. Grounds