Be
kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God
forgave
you. Ephesians 4:32
Sometimes God sends us a valuable gift
wrapped in an unattractive package. Forgiveness is one such gift. Let me
explain.
Forgiveness becomes necessary only after
an offense. Several words describe possible reactions to such an offense:
bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice.
Bitterness comes from allowing resentment
and unforgiveness to smolder—that fire that never quite catches but will not
stop burning. On the other hand, wrath springs forth in rage—the passion of the
moment that may use those ugly words that can never be retrieved. Anger can
become that deep seeded hostility—like the taste of a medicine that lingers on
and on and you want to spit it out but you cannot.
If we continue to live in unforgiveness, we
may find it impossible to keep those feelings hidden. Slander and malice then
join their friends bitterness, wrath and anger as the unattractive package of
unforgiveness ties the bow and sits heavy in our heart.
What began as an unattractive package—an
offense—becomes our own unattractive package that we inadvertently pass along
to others. How do we stop the cycle? Easy! Well, maybe not easy—but possible.
Forgive!
Ephesians 4:32 tells us to be kind,
compassionate, forgive. How? The same way God forgave you and me through Jesus
Christ His Son. When it comes to forgiveness, we must be proactive. We must
decide to forgive. We must remember that most offenses that come our way are
relatively small.
It is easy to be like the man in Matthew
18:21-35 who begged for patience to repay his own debt but was unwilling to
grant the same favor to another. But if we want to be like Christ,
unforgiveness is not an option! Oh, as much as I sometimes would like it to be an
option, it is not! Like me, I am sure you have had times of unforgiveness in
your heart? Ask God for help. Read His Word.
Then, give this a try: Sit down at the table, remove the package of unforgiveness from your heart, untie the bow, open the box and one by one relinquish bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice. Accept God’s valuable gift of forgiveness and offer it to others. Only as we give compassion and kindness can we be like Jesus.
Forgiveness may just be the mightiest tool in our arsenal when it comes to showing Jesus to the world!
© JP 2013
Then, give this a try: Sit down at the table, remove the package of unforgiveness from your heart, untie the bow, open the box and one by one relinquish bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice. Accept God’s valuable gift of forgiveness and offer it to others. Only as we give compassion and kindness can we be like Jesus.
Forgiveness may just be the mightiest tool in our arsenal when it comes to showing Jesus to the world!
© JP 2013
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