July 25, 2013

Forgiveness

How Should I Treat Those Who 'Dis Me? 

Quote: Hardening of the heart ages more people than hardening of the arteries. - Unknown

Matthew 18:²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

  

There are certain people who are hard to be around. They know how to push your buttons. They are unlovable, unkind, have a funky attitude, and always seem to get on your last nerve. How are you to deal with such a person? Be forgiving. Even if this type of person sins against you over and over again. As some may say, “They keep dissing me!  The Lord’s advice - Be forgiving!

 “Well, I like to forgive but I have a limit to my forgiveness.” Jesus teaches that we must forgive seventy-seven times. In other words, your forgiveness needs to be unlimited. 

Why? The reason is based on our forgiveness that comes from God. All our sins are forgiven through the precious blood of Jesus. Again Jesus is our model for living and as his followers we also promise to be forgiving to those who sin against us.

 A great biblical account of displaying this godly behavior is recorded in Genesis the 50th chapter. It reads:

¹⁵ When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. ²¹ So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. (NIV)

Joseph forgave his brothers. They had wronged Joseph shamefully and yet Joseph understood that he was given the power to forgive. We have a power given to us from Jesus. He commissioned us to forgive when he said, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Mt. 18:18 - NIV)

What does this mean?

Always have in your remembrance that as a saved Christian you have the power, the ability and accountability to forgive. Let every unpleasant encounter be considered closed.

  

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Amen

What Does This Mean?

The Christian faith is an enormous challenge for us. Faith in a sinful world can cause us to think and over think what is right and wrong in any situation. God has given us His Word in the form of the Holy Bible to guide us through life. In a culture that says that nothing is no right or wrong, believers rely on the Holy Scriptures to find faith, comfort, guidance and hope.

So, what does it mean to be a believer in a world that considers you crazy to believe in any God? Tonight in my kitchen, I heard a friend of my son say that he doesn't celebrate Christmas, Easter or any of those holidays. He wouldn't allow his children to participate in any of those events. And yet, he help his children to believe in the Tooth Fairy. There's something strange in his thinking but he doesn't think so.

This blog will function as a catechism. This catechism like most catechisms will help us not be ignorant of the Triune God. It will help us study, meditate, and confess the One True God.

Thanks for joining the journey!

We will begin tomorrow.