Human beings find it hard to let go of the anger,
bitterness and the desire for revenge, which we harbor against those who hurt
us. In actuality, we dream up all sorts of calamities, which we hope our
oppressors will fall into, as we grin with delight. Somehow, withholding
forgiveness makes our wounds easier to handle. We think we are punishing our
offender by refusing to forgive them.
However, the bitterness that grows out of unforgiveness is
a poisonous root that blossoms into a great many other issues (Hebrews 12:15). If we
choose to entertain resentment instead of forgiving our offender, bitterness
will corrupt our whole life. Paul exhorts us to get rid of all bitterness (Ephesians 4:31). God
knows exactly how to hand out vengeance to our tormentors (Deuteronomy 32:35-36).
The truth is that God cannot forgive us if we do not first
forgive others (Mark
11:26). If we do not ask forgiveness from those whom we
offend or wound, this is equally as serious (Matthew 5:24). However, when we understand
eternity, the concerns of this life lose their intensity and value. This
concept makes it so much easier to forgive. Aspects of this life, which used to
mean so much to us, have no more attraction for us.
There is no longer any need to harbor unforgiveness toward
anyone. We can live with the blessings of forgiveness instead. As we focus on
eternal matters, we rejoice without ceasing because of God’s salvation and His
multitude of blessings in our life. We exchange our plan for our life with
God’s plans for us. This change in our mindset provides us with fulfillment,
which we would never experience without complete surrender to God’s will.
Prayer:
Father
God, we count our self blessed, because of Your intervention in our life. You
save us from so much hardship that people will suffer, if they do not have You
in their life. Our slate of sin is wiped clean, because of Your sacrifice on
the cross. You hold nothing against us, and we hold nothing back from You (Psalm 32:1-2). We are so happy to get a fresh
start each new morning, to find freedom from the tyranny of sin and to walk in walk
in Your ways.
Thought
for the Day:
Some people
die with a bitter soul, having never tasted the goodness of the Lord. – Job 21:25