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We should always do our best to live peaceably among others. There are many instances in life when someone may do something wrong against us and instead of forgiving them and moving on, we hold on to the bitterness and anger and we refuse to let it go so that our life won't be affected. When we refuse to forgive, we are in essence paralyzing our own life because instead of moving forward, we become stuck in our unforgiveness. Instead of being stuck we should trust that God will be our vindicator in all things. What we must quickly realize is that we can't place ourselves in a position higher than Almighty God because we ourselves are sinners. We have fallen short too many times to count and just as God forgives us, we must also offer forgiveness towards others. Our job is to love others unconditionally just as God loves us even with our many flaws. (Romans 12:18-21) (Luke 6:31-36)
No matter how hard the temptation is to pay someone back, I encourage you to put on the example of Christ. He loved all, forgave all, welcomed all and wished that all would know His saving grace. The Bible declares in Colossians 3:12-13 “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.” Don't allow yourself to hold on to unforgiveness, but rather be wise enough to let it go. Forgive all, love all, welcome all and do not allow the poison of self-righteousness to take root in your heart. Just as you know that you have fallen short in times past and received God's grace and mercy, offer someone else grace just the same that has fallen short with you. (Matthew 18:21-35)
I encourage you to do your best to be an example. Turn the other cheek, give a soft answer, forgive even when you don't feel like you should and simply treat others as you would want to be treated. When you do, your heart will be filled with joy and peace that is unspeakable and God's favor will move over your life because you chose to obey His Word. (John 13:12-17) (Romans 12:9-10)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to see the benefits in living a peace filled life.
DO YOU WANT TO BE RIGHT?
I heard a funny story about a cowboy who ambled into the local blacksmith shop and picked up a horseshoe, not realizing it had just come from the forge. He immediately dropped the hot shoe, shoved his seared hand into his pocket and tried to act nonchalant.
The blacksmith half smiled and asked, “Kinda hot, wasn't it?”
“Nope,” replied the cowboy, “just don't take me long to look at a horseshoe, that's all.”
I chuckle because I don't enjoy admitting mistakes, either. Nope, I'm fine. I meant to do that.
Furthermore, when I think I'm right, I usually want people to know it. And when I'm IN THE RIGHT, it's hard to hold me back. “Hey, I'm the injured party here. I didn't do anything wrong. I can prove it!” I don't suffer righteous indignation quietly.
I learned of a minister who left his pulpit to go to medical school and become a doctor. An old friend saw him several years later and expressed surprise at his career change, but said he assumed it had been because he could care for people in a more physical way now that he was practicing medicine.
“Not at all,” the doctor responded honestly, “the reasons were purely economic. I discovered that people will pay more money to care for their bodies than for their souls.”
Several years lapsed before the friend saw him again and discovered that he had left medicine for law. “What was your reason this time?” the friend asked.
“Simple economics again,” replied the ex-minister, ex-doctor attorney. “I learned that people will pay more to prove they are right than to care for either body or soul.”
I suppose I'm not the only person who enjoys being right. Is that part of our human nature? In conflict, it seems most folks want to come out on top. When they are wronged, they want justice. If no justice is forthcoming, they lament about the unfairness of it all and indignantly brood in self pity. Many people will go to great lengths to prove they are right - and at tremendous cost, not only financially, but in other ways.
Do you know how difficult it is to insist on being right? And how high the cost?
Being the injured party is costly to physical and emotional health. Some people stew about the injustice of it all while their stomachs are eaten away by ulcers. While they wait for an apology or a court case to vindicate them, they grow resentful and bitter. They obsess on the cause of their pain and allow it to rob them of one of their most valuable assets - their happiness. In the end, many of them discover they paid far too high a price to be right.
An important question for me is this: Do I want to be right, or do I want to be well? And a related question is this: Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy? Because usually I have to choose.
But it's a choice I really ought to make.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Proverbs 15:1-4 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
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.”
Matthew 6:14-15 Jesus says, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: DOES YESTERDAY BELONG TO TODAY
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem122.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: IT DID HAPPEN TO US
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony59.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
