Every Biblical truth has significant practical results. Cultivating a consistently stronger faith in God is but one example. It gives us freedom from a sin we often find shackling us. That sin is Holding Grudges. The wicked servant of Matthew 18:21-35 possessed that horrible trait. Once having his own multi-million-dollar debt cancelled, he immediately had a debtor jailed over a few dollars debt.
Therefore, when someone gets in our way; makes a thoughtless mistake; says an unkind word; engages in an irritating dispute....HOW does God want us to respond? Ephesians 5:32 tells us, "Forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." The same directions come from Colossians 3:13. How did God forgive us? First, with Adam and Eve the example, God initiated forgiveness. At a time when they didn't understand the catastrophic nature of sin. When they both likely wondered why God's sacrifice of an animal was necessary over ONE sin. God's prompt forgiveness models what he demands we imitate, whether the offender understands and accepts his guilt, says he's sorry or shows any regret. Second, God's sacrifice of the animal that clothed the offending pair in a cured, tanned covering symbolized its continued protection while worn. It also expressed God's willingness to continue fellowship once he had forgiven them. An important point. We often want no further contact with the offender. God continues to want us, minus our sin. That means we're free to renew friendship with those offending us, not eliminate further contact. That also puts an end to the self-justifying excuse for not forgiving: he hasn't apologized. Thinking that way makes us an accomplice with the offender in the alienation, not God's agent in reconciliation. Do we want to be an irritant continuing trouble or an anodyne soothing it? Truly, then, the one mentally and emotionally extending forgiveness FREES himself. Because it eliminates the blame game we otherwise play with each other, extending conflict, division and revenge, not forgiveness. Third, being like God offers the ultimate reason faith in God frees us to forgive others. No greater opportunity comes to us than to do something godly! And no greater compliment will be paid us than to BE godly! In conclusion, if we have trouble forgiving others, let us: increase our faith in God. The very increase will help us offer offenders forgiveness. For, it's inevitable, as we draw nearer to God, and experience his mercy to us, the more patiently we respond to those needing mercy from us. Only by drawing nearer to God do we discover the grace of forgiveness. But once finding, and appreciating the freedom it gives us, we'll treasure it:
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