These words I believe are 3 of the hardest word to say, "I forgive you". This is one tough issue to learn! We think in big issues when we think of forgiveness not the petty little issues. The petty ones set root and continue to grow deep they fester and fester and then we explode in one way or another.
I am in a bible study now that touched on this topic and was hit with a revelation that when my husband and I argue and I think I am in the right and he is in the wrong that God is not rooting for me. He looks upon both my husband and I with equal grace! What??? You mean when I "feel" or "know" I am in the right, Gods not my cheerleader on my sideline, saying, "Yeah You Go Girl!" I know that's a childish plait, but whoa what a sucker punch to the heart!
My God, His God, Our Father looks at us with equal grace. I am learning that I need not even let my heart bend towards being justified. Why is this desire for us all so strong, "I must be justified!" Sin! That's why! There is a pound of flesh in everything we do!
I may be saved by grace and I know I am a child of God but I am not 100% sanctified... I am being sanctified and this process is not easy to endure or act out with grace! Doesn't it all boil down to pride, taming the lion inside and not being so quick to release it when were wronged?
Charles Spurgeon one said...
"He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christian to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature and therefore he is not disappointed when he does not fine it."
I end with 1 Peter 2:23-24
"He who committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
I HEAR YOU! It's so hard to forgive when we know that we were wronged, especially when that person is so certain that they weren't wrong to begin with! We have the human tendancy to want to become a lawyer and prove our case! It's also very hard to say "I'm sorry" at times too!
ReplyDeleteI just heard a radio program that talked about have human feelings, like anger, and that it's natural to have these feelings come out, but what we decide to do with these feelings is all up to us. We may feel anger, but should we show it?.....This is a difficult feeling to suppress sometimes, but it's what we are called to do. Jesus forgives us and we should be able to do the same for others.
I'm working on this (begrugingly) every day. But, unfortunately I fail miserably each and every day. Good thing God gives us lots of chances!
Thanks for the message! Love and Hugs!!!
What a fabulous quote from Spurgeon! Thanks much for that, Tam. I'll read that often. Love to you! Gwen
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