Christian Living

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Struggling to forgive unjust treatment is not a new issue for anyone. King David said in effect, “I even poured out my soul in prayer when they were hurting, and they repay me this way?”

For someone with a forgiving nature, it’s not as difficult as for one who tends to harbor bitterness, make judgments, or be critical. The hurts resurface, for all of us, but forgiveness is an intentional act.

We all can reflect on an unfair or blatantly illegal act done against us. When thinking about that instance or repeated offences, it is easy to say, “Repay my enemy Lord.” The anger can return so strongly, even to the point of desiring to attend their funeral!

It is easy to find all the judgment Scriptures and quote them to God with that person in mind.

It is more difficult however, to apply those same Scriptures to wrong things we have done in the past. It is easy to find the grace and blood Scriptures when combating our own evil deeds. We are taught not to condemn ourselves, because the adversary is the accuser, but by faith in the blood, we overcome.

Paul was feeding us a hard pill to swallow when saying, “Who are you that judges another? Are you not capable of the same things?”

Beloved Brother Peter goes further saying, “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous SCARCELY be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

The point is that Christ died for the ungodly and the sinner. “There is none good, no, not one, (but God)” said Jesus and the Psalmist. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64).

We MUST conclude that even though we may be walking in good works and right behavior right now, and seem pleasing in God’s eyes, “It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lamentations 3).

We did NOTHING to obtain His favor, or forgiveness it is the gift of God.

Jesus spilled His own blood on the book of judgments against us; blotting out all our shameful deeds.

With nail-scarred hands, He then rewrote our names in His book of life.

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies.”

Finally, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, even as GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HAS FORGIVEN YOU.”

Let it be, and rest assured that God is the avenger. Don’t hope to see your enemy suffer. Our God says to love our enemy, and if he’s hungry, feed him.

“But I say unto you,” said Jesus, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Why?
SO THAT YOU MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER which is in heaven: for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Be children of your Father; reflect Him.

What good thing will He withhold from one who does this?

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