October 18, 2015 WE ARE NOT IGNORANT
2 Corinthians 2:10-11: “But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”
Matthew 6:15: “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
John 20:23: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
One of the basic tenants of the Christian faith is forgiveness. Jesus came to earth announcing that God is a forgiving God and He taught that we are also to be forgiving people because we are the sons and daughters of God. Whether we forgive or not forgive has a huge impact on our lives as well as those that are near us. We find examples in scripture and we find examples in life of the devastation that comes as a result of not being willing to forgive others. Often, it is pride or a sense of entitlement that causes one not to forgive. We may feel that our very person and character has been violated when someone in some way does us wrong, and we just can’t forgive such a wrong-our pride has been offended. Or, for example, we may feel that we are entitled to a good reputation, and when someone says or does something to damage our reputation, we find that unforgivable. (It is possible to feel that we have been wronged because we have misjudged the words or action of others, while in fact they have done nothing wrong.) The fact is that being unwilling to forgive has greater consequences on the one who does not forgive than it does on the one who needs forgiveness. It is true, that un-forgiveness imprisons the one not being willing to forgive. If there is anything that destroys and divides families, friends and churches, it is that of not being willing to forgive. Wars have been started, marriages have been broken up, and churches have been divided all because of someone not being willing to forgive. The good news is that there is a “cure” for un-forgiveness and it is found in being aware of how much we have been forgiven. In Luke 7:47 we read: “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” There is a connection between love and forgiveness; if I truly love someone, I am willing and able to forgive them. What if the one who wronged us is a stranger-someone we don’t “love”? When our heart is full of the love of God, that love reaches to all people just as the love of God reaches all. Realizing how much we have been forgiven has a way of humbling us, causing us not to be so quick to judge, and be willing to extend forgiveness to those who wronged us. In fact, being wronged, gives us a great opportunity to express the love of God and an opportunity to demonstrate the kingdom of God. Actually, forgiving someone is not difficult when we understand the consequences of not forgiving, and the blessings that come as a result of forgiving. Some say that they can forgive, but they can’t forget-and that is true to a degree. However, the forgiveness that is God-like, has a way of “swallowing up”, or overshadowing the wrong that was done. When our forgiveness is based on the forgiveness of God, we do not have to live with the memory of the wrong we suffered, and the wound can be healed. Our focus must not be on the wrong suffered, but on the blessings of forgiveness. Forgiveness has a way of clearing the air, and in fact, has a way of strengthening the relationship with the parties involved. Finally, perhaps the most difficult forgiveness is that of forgiving ourselves when we fail, when we sin. It is the scheme of the enemy to remind us of our past sins and failures, and if we succumb to his schemes, we live defeated lives. It is a fact that we have all sinned-and sin is sin. When a past sin comes to mind, use it as a springboard to express thanksgiving to God for Him forgiving you. So let forgiveness be a hallmark of our lives; let us be quick to forgive others, and ourselves “in order that no advantage be taken of us” by Satan.
Colossians 1:13-14: “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Blessings,
Buddy
2 Corinthians 2:10-11: “But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.”
Matthew 6:15: “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”
John 20:23: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
One of the basic tenants of the Christian faith is forgiveness. Jesus came to earth announcing that God is a forgiving God and He taught that we are also to be forgiving people because we are the sons and daughters of God. Whether we forgive or not forgive has a huge impact on our lives as well as those that are near us. We find examples in scripture and we find examples in life of the devastation that comes as a result of not being willing to forgive others. Often, it is pride or a sense of entitlement that causes one not to forgive. We may feel that our very person and character has been violated when someone in some way does us wrong, and we just can’t forgive such a wrong-our pride has been offended. Or, for example, we may feel that we are entitled to a good reputation, and when someone says or does something to damage our reputation, we find that unforgivable. (It is possible to feel that we have been wronged because we have misjudged the words or action of others, while in fact they have done nothing wrong.) The fact is that being unwilling to forgive has greater consequences on the one who does not forgive than it does on the one who needs forgiveness. It is true, that un-forgiveness imprisons the one not being willing to forgive. If there is anything that destroys and divides families, friends and churches, it is that of not being willing to forgive. Wars have been started, marriages have been broken up, and churches have been divided all because of someone not being willing to forgive. The good news is that there is a “cure” for un-forgiveness and it is found in being aware of how much we have been forgiven. In Luke 7:47 we read: “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” There is a connection between love and forgiveness; if I truly love someone, I am willing and able to forgive them. What if the one who wronged us is a stranger-someone we don’t “love”? When our heart is full of the love of God, that love reaches to all people just as the love of God reaches all. Realizing how much we have been forgiven has a way of humbling us, causing us not to be so quick to judge, and be willing to extend forgiveness to those who wronged us. In fact, being wronged, gives us a great opportunity to express the love of God and an opportunity to demonstrate the kingdom of God. Actually, forgiving someone is not difficult when we understand the consequences of not forgiving, and the blessings that come as a result of forgiving. Some say that they can forgive, but they can’t forget-and that is true to a degree. However, the forgiveness that is God-like, has a way of “swallowing up”, or overshadowing the wrong that was done. When our forgiveness is based on the forgiveness of God, we do not have to live with the memory of the wrong we suffered, and the wound can be healed. Our focus must not be on the wrong suffered, but on the blessings of forgiveness. Forgiveness has a way of clearing the air, and in fact, has a way of strengthening the relationship with the parties involved. Finally, perhaps the most difficult forgiveness is that of forgiving ourselves when we fail, when we sin. It is the scheme of the enemy to remind us of our past sins and failures, and if we succumb to his schemes, we live defeated lives. It is a fact that we have all sinned-and sin is sin. When a past sin comes to mind, use it as a springboard to express thanksgiving to God for Him forgiving you. So let forgiveness be a hallmark of our lives; let us be quick to forgive others, and ourselves “in order that no advantage be taken of us” by Satan.
Colossians 1:13-14: “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Blessings,
Buddy
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