I liked the following, in today’s study: ” … the soul … is not designed to harbour resentments, and when we force it to do so it rebels. Nothing can be more important to the soul’s health than making sure the exercise of forgiveness is carried out regularly. Flush all bitterness out of your soul as you would flush a toxic substance out of your body.”
The practice of forgiveness is the essential first step of our journey. If, we find it hard to forgive others then we will find it hard to follow Jesus. We demonstrate our love for God by our obedience to His commands – and, He requires us to exercise forgiveness, through the strength of His Spirit.
The text, set for reading and meditation, comes from Paul’s letter to the Colossians 3:1-17 (NIV): “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
We set our mind on things above, when we put aside our natural desire for revenge and retribution (the drive to get even) and take up the practice of forgiveness. You cannot fully love another, in the way God loves, if you hold in your wounded heart resentment, and revenge. In Luke 23:33-34a, we read: “When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Jesus was able to ask for forgiveness – while He was still suffering; we can only respond in the same way – with His help – it’s not a natural human thing to do!
Your views?