It is
impossible to have a heart like God's heart without being a forgiver.
God, through His Son's willing sacrifice, forgave us when we were at
enmity with Him. Those who harbor a spirit of anger and resentment are
acting contrary to the will of God. In fact, with such a heart attitude
they cannot worship Him for our relationship with God is directly
related to our relationship with people. As John tells us, it is
impossible to love the God I cannot see if I do not love the people that
I can see. The visible and the Invisible are inseparable.
And too often we forget forgiveness in the little things. I magnanimously forgive those who have done "great" wrong to me; yet, I withhold forgiveness from someone who has offended me in the slightest way. That is not God's heart. He forgives it all. Always.
And forgiveness, I believe, is an attitude. If I have a forgiving heart, even when I am physically in the presence of someone who is hurting me, I am not offended, upset, or defensive, but forgiving and gentle in my response. "Father, forgive them" is the prayer of my heart. Recognizing the depth of God's forgiveness of me, I am easily forgiving of others. It is spiritual pride--the worst kind of arrogance--that keeps me from forgiving.
And the worst consequence of an unforgiving heart is bitterness--a bitterness that enslaves me. I lose my freedom to sense the love of God for who I am. I lose my confidence in His unending delight in me as He works to transform me into His image in His time frame. I lose my ability to forgive myself and feel only shame and a sorrow that cannot repent. I lose all hope of contentment and the peace of God that accompanies it. I lose valuable relationships and opportunities for personal growth in Christ-like living. I am burdened with self-inflicted wounds that have no hope of healing, and consequently, cause a slow rot in my entire soul. I lose spiritual power in a slow, moth-like, almost imperceptible way. sensing its loss but incapable of identifying its source and of embracing repentance and cleansing. I lose my joy. I am in danger of losing my faith and thus my hope that in all things God's good will prevail for those who love Him.
Forgiveness or bitterness. Those are the two options. On a daily basis. Often on a moment-by-moment basis. What kind of heart will you have? What kind of heart will I have? A gentle forgiving heart like our Savior's or a bitter, hardened heart like the Esau's of this world? A person who takes an unforgiving, bitter heart to the grave "dies many years before their death": cold, devoid of meaningful relationships, and fearful that they have lost the unloseable forgiveness of God.
And too often we forget forgiveness in the little things. I magnanimously forgive those who have done "great" wrong to me; yet, I withhold forgiveness from someone who has offended me in the slightest way. That is not God's heart. He forgives it all. Always.
And forgiveness, I believe, is an attitude. If I have a forgiving heart, even when I am physically in the presence of someone who is hurting me, I am not offended, upset, or defensive, but forgiving and gentle in my response. "Father, forgive them" is the prayer of my heart. Recognizing the depth of God's forgiveness of me, I am easily forgiving of others. It is spiritual pride--the worst kind of arrogance--that keeps me from forgiving.
And the worst consequence of an unforgiving heart is bitterness--a bitterness that enslaves me. I lose my freedom to sense the love of God for who I am. I lose my confidence in His unending delight in me as He works to transform me into His image in His time frame. I lose my ability to forgive myself and feel only shame and a sorrow that cannot repent. I lose all hope of contentment and the peace of God that accompanies it. I lose valuable relationships and opportunities for personal growth in Christ-like living. I am burdened with self-inflicted wounds that have no hope of healing, and consequently, cause a slow rot in my entire soul. I lose spiritual power in a slow, moth-like, almost imperceptible way. sensing its loss but incapable of identifying its source and of embracing repentance and cleansing. I lose my joy. I am in danger of losing my faith and thus my hope that in all things God's good will prevail for those who love Him.
Forgiveness or bitterness. Those are the two options. On a daily basis. Often on a moment-by-moment basis. What kind of heart will you have? What kind of heart will I have? A gentle forgiving heart like our Savior's or a bitter, hardened heart like the Esau's of this world? A person who takes an unforgiving, bitter heart to the grave "dies many years before their death": cold, devoid of meaningful relationships, and fearful that they have lost the unloseable forgiveness of God.
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