"How can God ask me to forgive THAT?!"
"________________ doesn't deserve to be forgiven!"
"Some things can't be forgiven."
"I'm not ready to forgive."
"God is asking too much."
It takes courage to forgive. The commands given by God in Mark 11:6 and 11:25, and throughout the bible, are NOT suggestions, but calls to obedience.
God's plan for us is to conform us into the image of His Son. His Son forgave, we are to do likewise.
The goal of this comforming is not to harm us, but for us to be complete in Him.
Unforgiveness causes brokeness in us, like cracks in a vase. We don't work with it in us. We are damaged.
Forgiveness is a balm, like a "crazy glue", used to fill in those cracks. Actually, when we even show a desire to forgive, God begins to work His Potter's hand smoothing out the surface, reshaping us for His use.
Forgiveness is hard. God never promised in His Word that He would not ask us to do hard things. What we have to consider is that God will not ask us to anything He hasn't. He understands the pain that can come with taking those first steps to forgive, but He never lets us off the hook because He knows it is for our benefit.
Esau forgave Jacob
Joseph forgave his brothers
David forgave Saul
Stephen forgave his stoners
Jesus forgave you.
Ask God for the ability to forgive, and then do what He says.
No comments:
Post a Comment