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There are many moments in life when we are tempted to hold a grudge over
someone else who did something to either hurt us, insult us or offend us.
We get it deep in our hearts that we are justified in hating that person
because of what they did to us, but we must remember that we are all fallen
human beings. We've all trespassed against our neighbor at one time or
another. We've all offended, insulted or hurt someone else whether
intentional or by mistake and just as we would hope to be forgiven for our
misgivings, we should also extend the same forgiveness towards those who
have trespassed against us. We could never have a holier than thou
attitude because in God's sight we are all sinners. No man can stand
before God Almighty and call himself just by his own merits. The Bible
says that we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as
filthy rags before Him. (Isaiah 64:6)
We must have a forgiving heart because God commands it. The Lord Jesus
declares in Matthew 6:14–15 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Forgiveness
not only shows our commitment to following and obeying the words of Christ,
but it also frees us from being in that prison of hate. When we hold on
to a grudge, we are poisoning ourselves from the inside out. We are
locking ourselves up in a prison that we hold the keys to. That doesn't
make any sense and yet people do it every day for years on end refusing to
let go of the hurts of the past and instead of enjoying and relishing in
today, they are frozen in the past. We should be conscious to the power
of forgiveness. We not only free the offender, but more importantly we
free ourselves in that same moment.
I encourage you to think on forgiveness. Don't hold on to the past, but
let it go and live the remainder of your life in freedom. Don't allow the
chains of unforgiveness to bind you, but make a decision for yourself to
be free from that pain. We must remember and keep in mind that each new
day that we are lucky enough to see is a blessing that should be used up
to the full. We should look forward to our days and not drudge through
them. We must remind ourselves of how fortunate we are. The blessings
that are in our life greatly outweigh the few negatives that have come
across our path. Let us enjoy this day, let us make the best of it and
let us let go of every past hurt that we've encountered. Doing so will
allow us to enjoy our days much more freely than we could have before.
Live in forgiveness my friend because that is when you will know what
freedom truly feels like.
I hope this message encourages and challenges your heart to see that
forgiveness is to your benefit just as much as it is to the one who
brought the offense.
WHEN THEY TRESPASS AGAINST US
I saw a sign in a church parking lot. It read: “Parking for Church Use
Only. Violators will be towed.” I wondered if it might be more effective
if some humor were used: “Parking for Church Use Only. Violators will be
baptized and expected to tithe.” That should clear the lot.
I heard of one church that posted a sign that read, “We forgive those who
trespass against us; but they will be towed all the same.”
We've all had people trespass against us in one way or another. And we
have each done our share of trespassing. The dictionary defines
trespassing as any offense, transgression or error against others.
Trespassing covers a huge territory. Though not always intentionally, I
know I’ve trespassed plenty over the years and more people than I can
remember have trespassed against me.
In his book Lee: The Last Years, author Charles Flood reports that after
the American Civil War, Confederate General Robert E. Lee visited a
Kentucky lady who took him to the remains of a grand old tree in front of
her house. There she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been
destroyed by Union artillery fire. She looked to Lee for a word condemning
the North or at least sympathizing with her loss.
After a brief silence, the general said, “Cut it down, my dear Madam, and
forget it.” He seemed to know that as long as she continued to recount her
losses, she'd never get over them. She had to release the North from her
debt in order to find anything like happiness again.
There’s a lot I have had to cut down and forget. I believe it’s the only
way ahead. It’s the only way to really live after loss, hurt or insult.
Cut it down and forget it.
Judith Wallerstein studied and wrote for years about the lives of people
who experienced divorce. At first she was surprised to discover how long
feelings of anger and hurt lingered after a divorce. Even ten years after
papers were signed, Wallerstein noted that many former husbands and wives
were still just as angry at one another as in the beginning. It’s as if
they gazed every day in contempt upon the grand old tree that used to be
their relationship, now scarred and irreparably damaged, and used the
ritual to feed their bitterness. She noticed that some former spouses,
years after a separation, still recited in detail negative violations and
trespasses of the other. The problem? These unhappy people were trapped
emotionally by their anger and bitterness.
People will always trespass against us. But there comes a time to cut the
tree down and forget it. For in the end, I’ve discovered that only when I
fully release others from my debt am I able to build the happy and
productive life I want. And though cutting that tree down is rarely my
first impulse, but it is my best final response to those who trespass
against me.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Matthew 5:43-45 Jesus says, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye
may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His
sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and
on the unjust.”
1 John 4:20-21 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a
liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he
love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him,
That he who loveth God love his brother also.”
1 Thessalonians 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but
ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”
Colossians 3:12-15 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above
all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let
the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in
one body; and be ye thankful.”
1 Peter 3:8-11 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil
for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that
ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that
will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good;
let him seek peace, and ensue it.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: HOPE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem31.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: TESTIMONY OF GOD'S LOVE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony150.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
