Everyone has been hurt and probably offended by a fellow believer, or a nonbeliever, maybe in the last week or so. I think this is one of the biggest problems in the church.
I know, I have been hurt many times from those in and out of the church.
Why do we get offended? If we were completely honest more often than not, it is our pride.
Let’s face it, if we were completely free of pride in our lives it would be very hard to offend us. That is probably one of the reasons God hates pride. I’ve heard that pride stinks and everyone can smell it except the person that has it.
Many people in the church are angry at someone and they either don’t know
how to deal with it biblically or they won’t let go of it and allow themselves to be set free. When you forgive, you not only set yourself free but you empower the one you are angry with to be set free.
But what we all have to understand is that this forgiving others isn’t a suggestion, it is a command ~ you have to forgive or you will never be forgiven. This is very serious stuff; this is not something to play games with.
When we stand before the Lord someday we will have no excuses and I can’t stress this enough. I know it is extremely hard at times but it is not impossible and it is a must ~ no ifs, ands or buts about it ~ you have to forgive.
Think about what Jesus went through, and through it all while hanging on the cross and suffering excruciating pain from His enemies He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Jesus didn’t have any pride, He was perfect but we are imperfect and because of pride we find it hard to forgive. Remember Jesus could have chosen to hold a grudge and not forgive. Jesus could have chosen to sin but he refused to entertain that thought for a moment.
If Jesus could forgive in that situation, and we having the power of God in our lives, how can we not forgive?
Now let me give you another example in the New Testament, just think about Steven when he was being stoned to death, what did he say? Check it out in Acts 7: 54 – 60
Think about it, here Steven is doing nothing wrong, he is just giving these
people a history lesson. But because of it, they got so angry they could
think of nothing but to stone Steven and kill him and these people were
supposed to be religious people.
Why would they do that? because Steven told them the truth and their pride was hurt and their anger rose up and destruction took place and death was the end result.
Don’t be surprised when people get angry at you, even those in your church, they are not all Christians, many are, but some are just full of religion. But even Christians hurt people and they also get offended.
The Bible talks about people that have the form of religion but lack the power therein, many of them are in the church.
And how did Steven respond? He basically said, “Lord don’t hold this sin against them.” In other words He forgave them. Have you been stoned lately or ever?
Forgiveness is a very hard thing to do at times, but Jesus never said it would be easy, but He did say that we have to do it.
We are not the only ones that have had a problem with it, Jesus’ followers had a problem with it too. Peter asked Jesus in Matthew 18: 21-22 how many times should I forgive my fellow believers when they sin against me.
I heard that the Jews thought that three times a day would be sufficient. But Peter asked if seven times was enough, he must have felt real good about himself saying this. Peter may have thought that was going the second mile that Jesus related to in Matthew 5: 38 – 42. But Jesus said you must forgive seventy times seven or as many times as they ask for forgiveness.
Mathew 6: 14 – 15 says, “If you forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11: 25 says, “Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone forgive him, that your father in heaven may also forgive you for your trespasses.”
How do we biblically go about approaching a brother who sins against us? It tells us the steps to take in Matthew 18: 15 – 16
This is such a big problem in the church and Christians need to deal with it and not take it lightly because in the end God will deal with it very severely.
One day Jesus taught his disciples how to pray and in the prayer Jesus makes this point ~ if you want to be forgiven then you must forgive. It is the Lord’s prayer. This prayer is found in Matthew 6: 5 – 13 Why don’t you look it up and read it.
If you say this prayer and you won’t forgive don’t expect to be forgiven.
If you have a hard time forgiving and loving people, continual prayer is the answer, trust God and He will be faithful to help you for that is his will for your life.
Now I want to touch on anger, just briefly. This is something I have had a problem with for years and I know others struggle with it also.
I want you to read Matthew 5: 21 – 24, Jesus is speaking some very strong words here and we need to learn from them and not wait until it is too late.
Now remember this, anyone who has heard these things is responsible to put what they have heard into practice. The Bible says we are all responsible for what we know.
Question: would you be honest enough to admit that you have this problem if you do?
Matthew 18: 18 says, “Assuredly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
So make it a priority to always forgive and leave the consequences to God. And keep short accounts with God, don’t wait a long time to get things right with God or with those you need to forgive, seek the Lord let him do the healing work. Pray and tell the Lord that you choose to forgive and to love all that have offended you and ask Him to help you to love them and forgive them from your heart.
Do what David did in Psalm chapter 51 -- Repent, confess and ask the Lord to forgive you, then try to make it right with the people that offended you.
If you are not a Christian and you are reading this I hope you will want to be. If you do, you can say this prayer, “Heavenly Father a know that I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. I am sorry for my sins and I ask you to forgive me and cleanse me through the precious blood of Jesus. Please come into my heart and take over my life and help me to live for you and I thank you so much for making me your child. For it is in Jesus name I pray, amen. Then go find a Bible believing church and start growing.
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