Encouragement

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Move On!
© 2014

by


Stephen A. Peterson


…You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

Isaiah 38:17 (NIV)


The greatest power any person has is the spring cleaning act of getting rid of those things causing you anxiety, depression and stress from your life because of others and being able to move on.

Someone’s cruel act or words has wounded you. Forget it! Forgive them! Pray for them! Do not think about it any longer! Move on!

A precipitated note was written about you, hurting you to your very core, as the person, you thought was your friend. Forget it! Forgive the offender! Pray for the offender! Move on!

Someone has spread a very nasty rumor by gossiping about you that is 100% untrue. Preserve your peace of mind! Forget it! Forgive the gossiper! Pray for the gossiper! Move on!

Someone denies knowing you in a criminal investigation causing you to be condemned to death for a crime you did not commit. As difficult as this is…Forget it! Forgive the offender! Pray for the offender! Move on!

But you say, and most would: “Oh, no! I can’t do these things! Furthermore, I won’t do these things! Are you kidding?”

Wait a minute! All of the above acts were perpetrated against Jesus on the day before and during His torture and death by crucifixion—the cruelest form of death known to humanity.”

Let’s take a look at the events. He was arrested on false pretenses. It took His enemies all night to come up with something, though distorted and weak, to condemn Him.

Although the Bible is not very clear about some of the events, Herod wrote Pilate that Jesus was an idiot. Judas, because Jesus would not become the military—king he argued with Jesus he thought He should be, sold his loyalty for money. Judas thought the Sanhedrin would scare Jesus into using His powers to deal with the Romans. Judas’ miscalculations are very similar to just about everyone’s today—to some degree. “God, how come You don’t hear me right this minute? Or why did you cause 320 people to die in a plane crash? I hate You! You aren’t good because You did not do as I want!”

It is well-documented that Peter denied even knowing Jesus. However, by their actions, all of His faithful followers denied Him with their minds and feet as most everyone has done when the going gets tough.
Jesus was beaten, punched, kicked and dragged all the way to Golgotha in the early morning to avoid the crowds. Then railroad spikes were driven into His wrist and feet as He screamed in pain around 9:00 AM dying around 3:00 PM or so. His enemies knew He was innocent but they had to give rid of Him so the death was justified—to them and to many today.

Fast forward to His Resurrection. Though it is not mentioned in the Bible, I am willing to bet the disciplines were afraid of a living Jesus because of the revenge factor. He changed everything when He said “Peace be with you!” This is an act of forgiveness that Jesus preached during His entire ministry coming to fruition with His Resurrection—a powerful example for us to follow though difficult.

Therefore, when you are wronged, forget it; forgive the offender; pray for the offender; and move on! Jesus would want it that way!



Prayer: Lord, You were wronged in the most despicable and unjust manner ever! You
responded with “Peace be with you” then forgave everyone who hurt You. Give
me the strength to do likewise. Amen.

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