Forgiveness Is Key!
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22
When someone has wronged you, you have feelings of hurt, anger, sadness and disappointment. Our human reaction would be to get even or to hold on to the offense. If we do this, we are only hurting ourselves. It is like poison to our systems and if we continue to stay angry we actually give the devil a foothold into our lives. God tells us this very thing in Ephesians 4:26-27. "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
If we live long enough on this earth, we are going to deal with people and situations that are unfair and are just plain difficult. The world will tell you to get revenge on the person or persons who hurt you. We feel that if we hold on to the hurt, that somehow the other person will suffer. Friend, actually the opposite is true. We are the ones that suffer. If you are filled with bitterness, you are focusing only on yourself and the light of Christ will not shine through you.
I can tell you from personal experience that there is freedom in forgiveness. You will never feel like forgiving. It is a choice that you must make. Eventually, the feelings will follow. When you forgive, there is a peace that will flood your heart, soul and mind. When you forgive, you are showing the love of Christ-you are showing the same love that Christ first showed you. Friend, you and I did not deserve the love of Christ, but He loved us so much and He proved this love to us when He gave His life for each one of us at Calvary. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8
If you are a child of God, think back for a moment what your life was like before Jesus saved you. Think about what you did and the things you said to others. You as well as I was living in sin at one time not giving a thought to pleasing others let alone pleasing God. We all are sinners in need of a Savior. When Jesus saves you, He places His Holy Spirit within you.You have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of you. We are fully equipped by the Holy Spirit to forgive as Jesus forgave us. We are to "bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13
It is not always easy to forgive, but it can and needs to be done. Jesus tells us, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you." (Matthew 6:14-15) As you read these very words from Jesus, it is clear that if we do not forgive others, then God will not forgive us. When we do not forgive, we cause a barrier between us and God. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2 As you read that verse, God makes it very clear that if we have unconfessed sin in our lives, He will not hear. God is holy and He cannot be in the presence of sin. With this in mind however, God tells us that "if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
I urge you today, that if there is someone in your life that you are bitter towards and you know in your heart that you have not forgiven them, please choose today to forgive them. Forgiving someone does not mean that what they did was right, but you are releasing them into God's hands thus freeing you from the bondage of bitterness and resentment.
"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
When someone has wronged you, you have feelings of hurt, anger, sadness and disappointment. Our human reaction would be to get even or to hold on to the offense. If we do this, we are only hurting ourselves. It is like poison to our systems and if we continue to stay angry we actually give the devil a foothold into our lives. God tells us this very thing in Ephesians 4:26-27. "In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
If we live long enough on this earth, we are going to deal with people and situations that are unfair and are just plain difficult. The world will tell you to get revenge on the person or persons who hurt you. We feel that if we hold on to the hurt, that somehow the other person will suffer. Friend, actually the opposite is true. We are the ones that suffer. If you are filled with bitterness, you are focusing only on yourself and the light of Christ will not shine through you.
I can tell you from personal experience that there is freedom in forgiveness. You will never feel like forgiving. It is a choice that you must make. Eventually, the feelings will follow. When you forgive, there is a peace that will flood your heart, soul and mind. When you forgive, you are showing the love of Christ-you are showing the same love that Christ first showed you. Friend, you and I did not deserve the love of Christ, but He loved us so much and He proved this love to us when He gave His life for each one of us at Calvary. "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8
If you are a child of God, think back for a moment what your life was like before Jesus saved you. Think about what you did and the things you said to others. You as well as I was living in sin at one time not giving a thought to pleasing others let alone pleasing God. We all are sinners in need of a Savior. When Jesus saves you, He places His Holy Spirit within you.You have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of you. We are fully equipped by the Holy Spirit to forgive as Jesus forgave us. We are to "bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13
It is not always easy to forgive, but it can and needs to be done. Jesus tells us, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you." (Matthew 6:14-15) As you read these very words from Jesus, it is clear that if we do not forgive others, then God will not forgive us. When we do not forgive, we cause a barrier between us and God. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear." Isaiah 59:2 As you read that verse, God makes it very clear that if we have unconfessed sin in our lives, He will not hear. God is holy and He cannot be in the presence of sin. With this in mind however, God tells us that "if we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
I urge you today, that if there is someone in your life that you are bitter towards and you know in your heart that you have not forgiven them, please choose today to forgive them. Forgiving someone does not mean that what they did was right, but you are releasing them into God's hands thus freeing you from the bondage of bitterness and resentment.
"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
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