adoptivemommy

Hello all!

To paraphrase:

"How many time should I forgive my brother?"
"70x7!"

And I believe, that's every day... You know, kind of like "His mercies are new every morning"! Why in the world would He make a new batch of fresh mercies for all of us every morning if we didn't need them? Well, we know the scriptures! We believe the Word! We want to do the right thing! And yet, why is it so hard to forgive? I am sure that for all of us, at one time or the other, it's been hard to forgive. And many times and for many of us it's that one person that just keeps hurting and insulting and acting up, while they keep professing how much they love the Lord and what good Christians they are. I'm in that situation right now! I've known this person for over 10 years and I am so tired of their behaviour. And yet I KNOW I have to forgive! I know the scriptures, etc., etc.! I keep asking the Lord why He is allowing this person to get away with all that they're doing. And I keep getting the same answer: They're not getting away with anything! Really? Why is that so hard for me to believe? I even asked the Lord once, in the middle of extreme frustruration to please expose this person for who they are and what they're really doing. The answer came swiftly: "OK!" For about 2 seconds, I was the happiest person in the world... But then it came... The second part of the answer: "IFyou allow me to expose your faults, as well!" No thank you! How could I do that? And then I thought about that scripture that says that all that we condemn others for we do! This person would be what we all would probably dub as a perpetual offender. But am I not a perpetual offender myself every time I let the offense come in and get angry and talk about this person? Oy! Any of you EVER go through this! Please say "yes"! I just don't want to be the only one!

Laura

Jasmine

I know the feeling well...I often feel guilty because I get upset with people for their faults and I find myself asking for forgiveness for my quick judgments. But at the same time, these people often commit wrongs! It is so difficult to forgive someone for commiting a wrong, but I know that forgiving them is the right thing to do...Yet I still often have trouble stopping myself from being angry with them...

Theophilus

Hey Jasmine,
Nice to see you in the boards

Once I realized just how bad off I realy was in relationship to God I spent nearly a year waiting for the the punishment I deserved. Once I realized the magnitude of the price Jesus paid for my sins alone and that I was forgiven, forgiveness of others was not a problem for me. That's not to say I'm any better than another or that I forgive easily. But for me It is not an issue.

Of cource it isn't easy to forgive and the bigger the hurt or more important the wrong the harder it is to forgive. It takes a sacrifice on ones part to forgive. If it doesn't then it's not forigiveness. But it is an expression of love and that is always rewarding.


In Him
Cliff

Jasmine

Thank you, Theophilus for your welcome and for your words... I found them to be so true and very helpful in my view of forgiveness. I guess it is never easy to forgive, but that as you said, it takes a sacrifice and that it is a form of love. Thinking of that sentiment makes it that much easier to forgive and to remember that everyone is deserving of forgiveness.

Boanerges

Jasmine it takes a strong man or woman to look in the mirror and be honest about ones faults- this keeps us humble-
It takes a wise man or woman to keep thier eyes on Jesus- this is how we began to find out who we really are in Christ-
the bible declares that we are the righteousness of God in Christ and this is how God reckons us- as we start agreeing with His Word and walking in faith we began to see this manifest in our life- and something else wonderful happens- as we become more like Him forgiveness is becomes very natural to us- we began to see others with His eyes and instead of judging God allows us to see the wounded state the offending person is in- our (new) natural reaction is love and compassion- isn't God wonderful- remember it is :
Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.