DAILY BIBLE READING:
Isaiah 48:12–50:11
Ephesians 4:17-32
Psalm 69:1-18
Proverbs 24:5-6
TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
Ephesians 4:32 (ESV) "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
Part of my duties as a pastor is counseling. Folks will visit my office or call me on the phone with a problem and I will seek to direct them according to God's Word.
In my experience, it seems as if forgiveness is one of the biggest problems that we all deal with. Sometimes, as I talk with someone in crisis, it will be discovered that their root problem is that they cannot forgive a parent or someone who they thought was a friend. Or, they are upset at the Lord for allowing a tragedy to happen when He could have kept it from occurring. Or, they cannot forgive themselves.
As unforgiveness takes root, it ferments and settles into anger. And unresolved anger eventually settles into anxiety and depression.
Our ability to forgive others and ourselves is not small matter. It is essentially a matter of obedience to God and, if we are disobedient in this area, could have a dramatic negative impact on us for the rest of our lives.
So, given how much God loves us, it's no wonder that He calls us to forgive. But, on what basis? And how completely must we forgive those who have hurt us?
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
We are to forgive each other because we have been forgiven by God. And we are to thoroughly forgive others because we have been completely forgiven by our Lord.
The forgiveness that Jesus has offered to us is the standard.
Did we horribly offend Him? Yes! Romans 5:8 makes it clear that He offered forgiveness while we were in opposition to Him and His laws.
Did it cost Him something to forgive us? Yes! Romans 4:25 says that Jesus had to die for our sins. Forgiving us cost Him His life.
Does He ever bring up our offenses after He has forgiven us? No! Psalm 103:12 makes it clear that God has cast our sins so far away that He will never consider them again.
So, friend, this is how completely we are to forgive others and ourselves. Based upon what Jesus has done for us, we are to forgive.
If you forgive, you are the one to benefit. If there is someone that you are struggling to forgive, why not ask God to help you to release that situation to Him? If you are still struggling, seek out a Christian pastor or counselor who can help you.
Friend, life is to short to hold onto offenses. Follow Jesus' example and let it go.
In my experience, it seems as if forgiveness is one of the biggest problems that we all deal with. Sometimes, as I talk with someone in crisis, it will be discovered that their root problem is that they cannot forgive a parent or someone who they thought was a friend. Or, they are upset at the Lord for allowing a tragedy to happen when He could have kept it from occurring. Or, they cannot forgive themselves.
As unforgiveness takes root, it ferments and settles into anger. And unresolved anger eventually settles into anxiety and depression.
Our ability to forgive others and ourselves is not small matter. It is essentially a matter of obedience to God and, if we are disobedient in this area, could have a dramatic negative impact on us for the rest of our lives.
So, given how much God loves us, it's no wonder that He calls us to forgive. But, on what basis? And how completely must we forgive those who have hurt us?
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32)
We are to forgive each other because we have been forgiven by God. And we are to thoroughly forgive others because we have been completely forgiven by our Lord.
The forgiveness that Jesus has offered to us is the standard.
Did we horribly offend Him? Yes! Romans 5:8 makes it clear that He offered forgiveness while we were in opposition to Him and His laws.
Did it cost Him something to forgive us? Yes! Romans 4:25 says that Jesus had to die for our sins. Forgiving us cost Him His life.
Does He ever bring up our offenses after He has forgiven us? No! Psalm 103:12 makes it clear that God has cast our sins so far away that He will never consider them again.
So, friend, this is how completely we are to forgive others and ourselves. Based upon what Jesus has done for us, we are to forgive.
If you forgive, you are the one to benefit. If there is someone that you are struggling to forgive, why not ask God to help you to release that situation to Him? If you are still struggling, seek out a Christian pastor or counselor who can help you.
Friend, life is to short to hold onto offenses. Follow Jesus' example and let it go.
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