Category Archives: Forgiveness

Build Bridges – Not Walls!

02 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Choice, Compassion, Forgiveness

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Being a third person in a conversation often provides a unique opportunity for building.  A friend calls to talk because she has been hurt by someone else you both know. How will you respond?  Will you help build a bridge or help construct a wall?

Paul helped build a bridge between Philemon and Onesimus.  Onesimus, a run away slave, had clearly wronged Philemon, his master.  Yet, Paul stepped in to help the two reconcile.

Building a bridge:

  • Reconciliation acknowledges the problem.
  • Reconciliation offers a solution.
  • Reconciliation involves forgiveness.
  • Reconciliation involves being willing to change your mind about someone.
  • Reconciliation is a choice.

Building a wall:

  • Separation replays the problem.
  • Separation offers no solution.
  • Separation refuses to forgive.
  • Separation permanently nails the offense to the other person.
  • Separation is a choice.

God chose reconciliation.  He built a bridge between Himself and you.  That bridge is Christ.

Choose reconciliation.  Bridges will take your further!

Philemon, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

 

 

 

 

Aargh! People Do the Dumbest Things!

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Forgiveness, Love

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The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.  He must turn away from evil and do good; He must seek peace and pursue it. I Peter 3:10-11

Do you ever want to give someone a piece of your mind?  I do!  Sometimes people just do the dumbest things and I am dying to set them straight! I’m sure that once I get it off my chest, I will feel so much better!

But will I really?  Probably not.

If I want to see good days, I must use my words wisely.  I must hotly pursue peace instead of letting my hot spirit run my mouth.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.  Proverbs 17:14

He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.  Proverbs 17:27

Have you ever started a quarrel because you just couldn’t let it go?  And once the floodgate was opened, there was no stopping it. Everyone was drowned in hurt when it was over.

It’s okay to be hot.  Just be hot in the right way.  Control the heat instead of letting the heat control you!

Be hot in love for one another! And stay that way!

Fervently (hotly) love one another from the heart.  I Peter 1:22

Above all, keep fervent (hot) in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  I Peter 4:8

at-the-crossWhen someone does something dumb to you, choose to forgive them. Choose good. Choose peace. By doing so, your love for them will stay hot!  And you will see good days!

Christ loves you with a fervent love! Love others the way He loves you! John 15:12

Let it Go!

12 Monday Jan 2015

Posted by in Anger, Forgiveness

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It happens!  Someone says or does something that hurts you.  You feel insignificant, unappreciated, and disrespected.  And almost spontaneously, that pain morphs into anger. And this precise moment is a devil of an opportunity.

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Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry and yet do not sin;”

How I respond to this devil of an opportunity determines whether or not the devil has an opportunity.  Ephesians 4:27

If I hang on to my anger, I will use my words to tear down and destroy. I will create an uproar.  I will slander.  I will harbor ill will and secretly watch for a chance to get even.  I will nurture and cherish my bitterness. I will stay front and center.

If I let go of my anger, I will use my words to build up and edify.  I will create unity.  I will speak well of the one who hurt me.  I will forgive.  I will be tender-hearted.  I will put others front and center.

If you’ve been deeply hurt, you know how difficult it is to let the anger go;  And the deeper the hurt, the harder it is to let go.

In the middle of the passage about anger is the following verse:

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  Ephesians 4:30

Forgiveness happens only when we say ‘Yes’ to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When He says, “Let it go!”, say ‘Yes’.  And keep saying ‘yes’.  He will do through you what you are unable to do yourself.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23

We are in a spiritual battle, not with the people around us, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness.  So do not give the devil an opportunity.  Instead, give God an opportunity to work in you.  Trust Him to work this for your good. Ephesians 6:10-12, Romans 8:26-30

A Sinner Woman and Simon

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Forgiveness, Grace, Love

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And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner. Luke 7:36

And Simon said to himself, “If this man (Jesus) were a prophet, He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39

And Jesus answered, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Luke 7:40

And thus began the ‘in-your-face’ lesson about grace.

Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss; but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet from the moment I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. She has been forgiven much and she loves much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:44-47

Grace is the undeserved favor of God.  Grace is a gift with no strings attached. A gift that is earned or somehow deserved is NOT a gift.  And grace that is earned or somehow deserved is NOT grace.

Any claim to merit diminishes grace.  Any sense of entitlement is an insult to the grace of God and blocks our ability to love Him and to love others.

Simon felt deserving and worthy.  He felt superior.  He could not enjoy the richness of God’s grace.  He could not ‘love much’.

How about you?  Do you feel like you are earning or deserving of God’s favor? Do you feel superior?

Or do you embrace your inability to earn God’s favor and come humbly before Him with arms wide open, ready to receive His lavish grace, ready to share his grace with others?