Greetings everyone and welcome to today’s edition of …
Learn & Grow with Jesus Every Day
Today’s Topic is: Forgiveness
Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Bible Reading: Luke 17:1-3 NIV
Jesus said to his disciples: ““If your brother or sister[a] sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. 4 Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
Discussion Question: What really is forgiveness?
Before we consider what forgiveness really is, let us first break down in today’s English what Jesus really said. The Message translation has it this way – “Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him. If he responds, forgive him. Even if it’s personal against you and repeated seven times through the day, and seven times he says, ‘I’m sorry, I won’t do it again,’ forgive him.” Awesome, that is much easier to understand.
Now, let me paraphrase – If your brother or sister is going wrong, do not look the other way, correct him/her. If someone does something or says something that offends you, do not bear grudges waiting for an opportunity to get even. Let that person know that they have hurt you and be ready to forgive them. If that person inadvertently hurts you several times in a day, please correct them in love and forgive them. Do not lose your temper and treat them harshly because of the many times they wronged you. Persist in your loving and gentle correction, and do not be stingy with your forgiveness. Always stand ready to forgive.
Easier said than done you would say, but Jesus expects nothing less from each of us His followers. Think about how many times you grieve the Holy Spirit and sin against God and your fellow men, yet, the Blood of Jesus is ever ready to cleanse you from your sin just for the asking. The only thing God requires from you is to simply ask, no matter how many times and He would forgive you. God expects us to extend the same love to our neighbors, gently correcting those that wrong us, and forgiving liberally always.
Forgiveness is really a favor you do to yourself. Forgiving someone isn’t about whether they deserve it or not, it isn’t about setting them free- it’s about setting yourself free.
Forgiveness is your release to find healing, inspiration, and comfort through divine love. Yes, there are times you can be so deeply hurt that you sincerely believe that chances of forgiving your offender are much less than zero. Nevertheless, if you truly want to gain the peace of God and be filled with His love and joy, you must be courageous and bold to walk away from the pain, bitterness, and hurt. You must be able to let go of that hatred, resentment, and anger. You must be able to demonstrate the same love Jesus did as He hung on the cross. After enduring the worst cruelty ever meted to man, Jesus prayed for His killers saying, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do".
Right there on the cross, Jesus demonstrated the power of the Love that made Him come down from Heaven to redeem us from our sins. The bible says in Romans 12:21 - Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.
Truly no one is deserving of our forgiveness, and a day will never come when anyone would ever be. By no means did God say that your anger for the offense isn’t justified. It probably is, but what God is saying is in spite of the justification of your anger, "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27.
Simply put, don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Truly, forgiveness can be so hard sometimes, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Let your forgiveness start even if it’s in small steps. That’s perfectly ok. The most important thing is that the journey to full forgiveness has started honestly and earnestly from your heart. Work your way to complete and total forgiveness, especially in those times when you are really, really angry. Pray to God to help you to find forgiveness in your heart and to remind you that it is not your job to hold anger against someone or to punish them. Vengeance is God’s not yours. Ekelu oru eke.
Leaders repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. (Maka na ekelu oru eke)” Romans 12:17-19.
Stay uplifted in Christ always and live cheerfully every day.
Leader Chinedu Nicholas Obodo for Exolom Fellowship, Maryland, USA. Find us at exolom.com