| A Message "How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:103 -105 |
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Forgiveness Forgiveness. Often, this can be a tough thing to do. We are called upon to forgive someone after they have wronged us in some way. The human nature dictates we hold a grudge and not forget that we were wronged. God’s way is to forgive that person even if they offend you multiple times in one day! If they ask your forgiveness, you are to give it to them. (Luke 17:4 "and if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.") He didn’t say forget about it, just do it once and forget about them, but forgive them every time they ask for forgiveness. How many of you are still holding a grudge? Answer: all of us in one form or another.HAve you not spoken to someone in so many years because they did or said something that you barely even remember what it was now?However, you know you were wronged and stubborn pride refuses to let go! But hey! Why should we forgive? They were wrong. Let them live with it! Well, here’s why, (Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.") It’s right there in The Good Book! God puts it plainly for all to see. No secrets, no hidden messages. Do it because if YOU don’t, then God won’t forgive YOU! Now, you have to admit to yourself that not one of us is perfect, far from it, and we need to ask for forgiveness every day and it is granted to us. But if we will not forgive then we are lost because our Father in Heaven will not forgive us! A short time ago we had a small problem with our neighbor next door, nothing truly major, but a problem none-the-less. The greeting of hello got to be less and less as well as feeling bad about it, although we didn’t do anything. One evening there was a knock on the door and it was our neighbors. "uh-oh," I thought, "here we go." I was sorely mistaken( and later, ashamed) and was taught a lesson as the wife said that she was sorry things got off on the wrong foot and she asked for forgiveness. I looked at my wife and ours eyes met as the Scriptures ran through my mind. Apologies went around as did the forgiveness and fences are mended. Ego and pride could have made for an uglier situation on both sides, but God prevailed that evening. Many times we know that someone has a grudge or ill feeling toward us and we go to seek forgiveness. You are doing this as per Scripture (Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.") There are times that we are rebuffed in our attempt to seek forgiveness. While this is sad, please take note that you have fulfilled what is required of you. You went and sought out forgiveness. Please be careful because to continue to pursue this person or people in an attempt to achieve their forgiveness is a form of idolatry. You are seeking to appease or please them and not God. Oftentimes, people mistake forgiveness with forgetting. Not the same thing. The woman whose son is murdered forgives the man who did it because she is commanded by God to do so. However, you can bet that she will not forget, ever. It is a hard thing, forgiveness. Especially if we let our earthly minds get in the way, our ego and pride. However, forgiving and being forgiven can also be joyful. As I have heard a few pastors say recently " be better, not bitter!" |