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02-04-2008, 12:49 PM
Forgive!
by Muriel Larson
Do you need help to forgive someone?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Do you know some people who seem bitter, hostile, or angry with life in general? Chances are that those people are holding a grudge against one or more persons who have hurt or offended them at some time. They have never forgiven those offenders.
As long as a person holds a grudge against someone else, love, peace, and joy will escape him. Why? Because hostility drives out love, anger robs people of peace, and bitterness destroys joy. Furthermore, true love, peace, and joy come from the Spirit of God. Bitterness, hostility, and wrath grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
Because forgiving people who hurt us often seems difficult, we don’t see many radiant Christians in our churches. This in turn hinders the effectiveness of our church’s ministry to the people and community. It hinders church boards, groups, and youth programs. It even results in church splits.
What would happen if we Christians obeyed our Lord in the matter of forgiving people? Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Just think of the joy we would experience when the burden of anger, bitterness, and hostility is lifted! Then people would see Jesus in us and we could really be a testimony for Him.
Advice from our Lord Jesus Christ about Love and Forgiveness
* "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). In our natural selves, loving our enemies is impossible. But remember that "God demonstrated his own love toward us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). As sinners, we were God’s enemies, yet He loved us. So when His Spirit lives in us, He can give us the power to forgive our enemies and even love them. That’s part of His amazing grace.
* “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Following those instructions helps us to forgive and love such people. If someone has hurt you, try this plan to pray for them. Once when I worked with a young woman who often made cutting remarks to me, I started saying nice things to her. Do you know what happened? When I left, she threw a going-away party for me!
* Jesus taught us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Many of us have prayed this when saying this petition our Lord gave us (Matthew 6:12).
* He also said: "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 your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Light from the Word
* We reap what we sow in this life (Galatians 6:7), and sometimes God must chastise His children. If we’re unforgiving and hardhearted toward someone else, God will take that into account when He deals with us. See the story Jesus told that illustrates this in Matthew 18:21-35.
* “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you," Paul told the Ephesians (4:32).
* Remembering what God did in order to forgive us can help us to forgive others. God will answer the sincere prayer for help in doing this. And when we have fully forgiven everyone, and walk with the Lord, then we shall see Him do great and mighty things as we pray. The sweetest thing He’ll do is give us His love, peace, and joy, the fruits of real forgiveness!
* Why not start today by forgiving everyone who ever hurt you? It will clear your mind of anger, hostility, resentment, and turmoil, help all your relationships, and allow room for God’s uplifting blessings and presence.
“Lord, cleanse me of all bad feelings and make me a new person in you.”
Questions:
Do we really make ourselves and others miserable when we don’t forgive people?
Is there someone God is nudging me to pray for and to forgive toay?
by Muriel Larson
Do you need help to forgive someone?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Do you know some people who seem bitter, hostile, or angry with life in general? Chances are that those people are holding a grudge against one or more persons who have hurt or offended them at some time. They have never forgiven those offenders.
As long as a person holds a grudge against someone else, love, peace, and joy will escape him. Why? Because hostility drives out love, anger robs people of peace, and bitterness destroys joy. Furthermore, true love, peace, and joy come from the Spirit of God. Bitterness, hostility, and wrath grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30).
Because forgiving people who hurt us often seems difficult, we don’t see many radiant Christians in our churches. This in turn hinders the effectiveness of our church’s ministry to the people and community. It hinders church boards, groups, and youth programs. It even results in church splits.
What would happen if we Christians obeyed our Lord in the matter of forgiving people? Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Just think of the joy we would experience when the burden of anger, bitterness, and hostility is lifted! Then people would see Jesus in us and we could really be a testimony for Him.
Advice from our Lord Jesus Christ about Love and Forgiveness
* "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45). In our natural selves, loving our enemies is impossible. But remember that "God demonstrated his own love toward us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). As sinners, we were God’s enemies, yet He loved us. So when His Spirit lives in us, He can give us the power to forgive our enemies and even love them. That’s part of His amazing grace.
* “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Following those instructions helps us to forgive and love such people. If someone has hurt you, try this plan to pray for them. Once when I worked with a young woman who often made cutting remarks to me, I started saying nice things to her. Do you know what happened? When I left, she threw a going-away party for me!
* Jesus taught us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us." Many of us have prayed this when saying this petition our Lord gave us (Matthew 6:12).
* He also said: "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 your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15).
Light from the Word
* We reap what we sow in this life (Galatians 6:7), and sometimes God must chastise His children. If we’re unforgiving and hardhearted toward someone else, God will take that into account when He deals with us. See the story Jesus told that illustrates this in Matthew 18:21-35.
* “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you," Paul told the Ephesians (4:32).
* Remembering what God did in order to forgive us can help us to forgive others. God will answer the sincere prayer for help in doing this. And when we have fully forgiven everyone, and walk with the Lord, then we shall see Him do great and mighty things as we pray. The sweetest thing He’ll do is give us His love, peace, and joy, the fruits of real forgiveness!
* Why not start today by forgiving everyone who ever hurt you? It will clear your mind of anger, hostility, resentment, and turmoil, help all your relationships, and allow room for God’s uplifting blessings and presence.
“Lord, cleanse me of all bad feelings and make me a new person in you.”
Questions:
Do we really make ourselves and others miserable when we don’t forgive people?
Is there someone God is nudging me to pray for and to forgive toay?