Look at the other side of the coin. Have you ever been on the receiving end of forgiveness when you had done a wrong to someone....either on purpose or by accident? It's hard, and it hurts no matter what you age!
In Wendy Blight's book, Hidden Joy, she writes "Scripture teaches that forgiveness is not optional. Jesus died on the cross to save you from you sin. You did nothing to deserve His forgiveness. He gave it freely with no conditions attached." Hmmm....not optional. It is expected because we have been forgiven.
This makes me remember a question that a friend asked one day. She wanted to know how to forgive someone if they had already passed away. I was not expecting this, and was not prepared to answer as God would have wanted me to! This, my friends, is an area of weakness of mine that I am truly working on! I need to be spending more time knowing God and His Wonderful Word than other things that I chose to do! Guilty as charged! I have experienced growth, but I have a long way to go!
Please take time to visit Wendy's blog today and as we discuss forgiveness. Some of the comments have just melted my heart! This book is simply wonderful! I received my copy in the mail right before we left for the beach in June. I settled down with it on the beach and began reading. By Wednesday, I was still reading! Y'all, I've said it before--I am a speed reader! Even Hubby asked me if I was almost done with this book. I told him that I wanted to really think about each chapter--to let it resonate within my heart. God so used it to speak to me! I highly encourage you to order this book for your collection! Wendy did a beautiful job sharing her heart and story.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Sweet Blessings!
8 comments:
I loved this chapter of Wendy's...just like you did! Wow! Full of God's Word...pointing us to Him and His truth.
Challenging. Refreshing. Life-giving!
Susan, I too struggle with this issue. Thanks for being open and honest!
I love Wendy's book! Love it! I've been telling all my friends that they need to buy it.
This is a big one for me too. Thank you for the reminder of HIS love and forgiveness. If He can give His life to forgive my many sins, I can definitely forgive others for sinning against me. I pray they will also forgive me in the same way.
Blessings,
Amy
This is challenge for me as well. Thank you for the beautiful reminder of God's love and forgiveness.
Yes, forgiveness is one of God's favorite shaping techniques for our hearts. Both to receive it and to dispense it; rarely do we have the "feelings" to go with the obedience at the time, but they eventually come. I've recently been thinking a lot about God's presence literally living in me and what that means in terms of others' wrongs against me. It's not just me they're hurting. It's God. He simply tell me he can handle it!
So good to know I'm not living this out all on my own. He is everything to me.
peace~elaine
Unforgiveness will eat away at you, to me it means letting go of the wrong done to me, and giving it to God. When I harbor unforgivenes, it can turn to bitterness and that is not what I want others to see in me. Thanks so much for the reminder. Jackie
So timely for me...dealing with some forgiveness "issues". I should check out the book...I will check out the blog.
Thanks girlie. See ya in a week.
Truth known.. we all have our times with this subject. Something that we must work at each and every day :))
Post a Comment