“If a brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” Luke 17:3-4 (TNIVB)
"The Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to bring his account up to date. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him $10,000,000! He couldn't pay, so the king ordered him sold for the debt, also his wife and children and everything he had. But the man fell down before the king, his face in the dust, and said, Oh, sir, be patient with me and I will pay it all. Then the king was filled with pity for him and released him and forgave his debt. But when the man left the king, he went to a man who owed him $2000 and grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. The man fell down before him and begged him to give him a little time. Be patient and I will pay it he pled. But his creditor wouldn't wait. He had the man arrested and jailed until the debt would be paid in full. Then the man's friends went to the king and told him what had happened. And the king called before him the man he had forgiven and said, "You evil hearted wretch! Here I forgave you all that tremendous debt, just because you asked me to, shouldn't you have mercy on others, just as I had mercy on you? Then the angry king sent the man to the torture chamber until he had paid every last penny due. So shall my heavenly Father do to you if you refuse to truly forgive your brothers." Matthew 18:23-34 (TLB)
This story is definitely a reflection of the unforgiveness that some of us have. God has forgiven us for so much, but it becomes so difficult for us to reciprocate the same action to others. Forgiveness is not the easiest thing to do, but when we think back on all that we have done to others, especially God, how do we go off as if we are perfect and people do us wrong only. It is easy to bring to the forum of what has been afflicted upon you, but think about it, what have you done that may have hurt or offended someone that has never even been mentioned, because a person chose to forgive you, by letting it go and you never knew it. Trust me we all have had those moments.
As I wrote this month about blacks that suffered more than many of us today could have taken, I began to think if I lived during those days could I have forgiven those that whipped us, raped us, hung us from trees, took our children from us, treated us less than animals, could I forgive them? That question I can't answer even though they are my thoughts, but I will deal with the treatment I have received from others, no color issues, just trying to love everyone, forgiving, forgiving and more forgiveness. I always sit and think about what I have done to others and how I have disobeyed God countless amounts of time and received forgiveness for not some, but all of my wrong doing. As a result of this I began to count my debt, then I realize how much I owe and that is to forgive, forgive and to forgive. Remember more forgiveness has been given to you than you will ever in this life, have to give back.
Each and every day of my life, i am reminded that God wipes the sin slate free for me. He continues to forgive me, so why is it so hard to forgive others who hurt or offend me. We have to learn to make the right choice to please God and forgive all those becuase in truth, God forgives us each and every day.
ReplyDeleteForgiveness is a stepping stone to true freedom
ReplyDeleteFORGIVNESS SHOULD REST AT THE CORE OF EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.THE BIBLE SAYS, WE ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY. SO EVERY SINGLE DAY WE SHOULD SEEK GODS FORGIVNESS. WHEN WE FIND IT, WE SHOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE IT TO ANOTHER, WHEN IT'S NEEDED.
ReplyDelete