Friday, May 15, 2009

Forgiveness Frees - Give it a Try


Let me remind all of us of a very simple message that God spoke during worship last Sunday at PF. “If you want freedom, you must walk in forgiveness. Unforgiveness is like having huge chains strapped to your arms and feet, and it’s like having a volcano coming out of your mouth.” Experiencing the emotional ability to forgive may take time, but beginning the process with your mouth and actions can begin today.

So, who do you need to forgive? Everyone who has ever done anything to hurt you. That’s a lot of people. And that’s not just current people that you see today. A dear saint shared last Sunday that the Lord reminded her that she needed to forgive some teenage boys who hurt her nearly 40 years ago. Wow, to think that unforgiveness can linger that long and can still be affecting us.

We need to see that forgiveness is not just going to someone and saying, “you’re forgiven”. Rather, walking in forgiveness is a way of life that only Jesus can enable. Ask him for this “ability”. As we regularly contemplate the cross and what Jesus did in forgiving us, we will be greatly aided.

Here is a good test of whether or not you have forgiven a person. Can you pray the Lord’s blessing on that person without trying to manipulate what that blessing should look like? Please remember that the greatest blessing the Lord ever gave us was a soft and contrite heart.

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