Forgiveness Nuggets 12
If we harbor unforgiveness, there is no way we can see reality – all we have is our own subjective perceptions.
Matt 6:22-23 (NIV)
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
When we hang on to unforgiveness, our discernment becomes warped because we interpret issues from a childish point of view.
Choosing to be unforgiving causes us to fall short of the grace of God.
Heb 12:15 (NIV)
15See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
When we hang on to unforgiveness, our sin comes back on us and must be dealt with again and again.
“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who trespass against us.”
Matt 18:23-35 (NIV)
23"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents[a] was brought to him. 25Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' 27The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.[b] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
Unwillingness to forgive affects our ability to confront others and to receive correction.
Prov 15:10 (NIV)
10 Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path;
he who hates correction will die.
Prov 9:7-10 (NIV)
7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Prov 27:5-6 (NIV)
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Prov 25:11 (NIV)
11 A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
If we fail to forgive each other, it makes us vulnerable to attack by Satan.
Satan wants to use any unforgiveness he can find in our hearts as part of his scheme to create disharmony and destroy the unity of God’s people.
2Cor 2:5-11 (NIV)
5If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Unity in the body of Christ validates Jesus before the world. Disunity causes the world to disbelieve that Jesus is who He said He is – sent by the Father. Satan uses any unforgiveness he can find to attack us in the vulnerability of our wounds.
Eph 4:26-27 ; 31-32 (NIV)
26"In your anger do not sin"[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27and do not give the devil a foothold. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Hanging on to unforgiveness creates in us the necessity to build and maintain a facade.
Luke 11:39-40 (NIV)
39Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. 40You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?
1John 5:19-20 (NIV)
19We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. 20We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Holding on to unforgiveness produces physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion.
Prayer:
Father, help me to not miss the grace of God by allowing bitterness to dwell in me. Forgive me for being like the Pharisees, putting on an impression of something I’m not. Because I know you look on my heart and not my works. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence nor take Your Holy Spirit from me. Amen!
Lorilie Nelson
Choosing Forgiveness
John & Paula Sandford and Norm Bowman
Copyright © 1996
Clear Stream, Inc. Publishing
Box 122128, Arlington, Texas 76012
Total Forgiveness
R.T. Kendall
Copyright © 2002
Published by Charisma House
A Strang Company
600 Rinehart Road
Lake Mary, Florida 32746
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