Here is a challenge for you, describe a person who does not forgive someone in one word....and the answer is WICKED! That is right someone who refuses to forgive is called wicked.
When you read about the unforgiving servant a man owed an enormous debt to his master. His master ordered that the servant be sold along with his wife and children. And than on top of that the
debt must still be paid. The servant pleaded with his master for more time to repay his debt. The master had pity on him and forgave the debt completely and released the servant. Total and complete forgiveness. How sweet is the notion of knowing that we are forgiven, it would have been wonderful if the story ended there but it goes on.
The servant goes home rejoicing in his forgiveness. However he sees someone who owes him debt. Not mind you the debt was not as great as the debt the servant owed his master. The debt the servant owed his master could not be counted. But here we are, the servant demanding his small debt be paid off now! The debtor pleaded for mercy but the servant refused to hear his plea and had the debtor jailed until his debt was paid in full.
Well the master was informed of what had happened and immediately summoned the servant to be brought before him. And this time mercy was not on the agenda. The master was furious and could not understand how someone who was forgiven so much could not forgive so little, how could they be so wicked and not show mercy? The master sent the servant to jail to pay a debt he could not afford.
The Word reminds us in the end that God will treat those who refuse to forgive the same. He will treat them as a wicked servant. This begs the question, are you the wicked servant who will not forgive? Are you unwilling to forgive someone? Are you so committed to holding on to your unforgiveness that you are willing to suffer Hell?
Friends mercy will always triumph justice. Mercy overrides our feelings. Mercy does not need to receive an apology, it only needs to offer forgiveness. If you are so focused on receiving justice instead of giving mercy then God makes it very clear, He will do the same. He will not seek mercy on the debt you owe Him, He will seek justice and justice alone. Now I ask you is that a load or a burden you can bear on your own?
But how do we forgive those who have wronged us. We forgive them day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and second by second. We never stop forgiving. We study the Word and search the scriptures to understand forgiveness better. We pray for those who we feel we have wronged and openly forgive them. We contact those who have been on our "naughty" list and offer forgiveness. We focus on God's love instead of our hate. We become born again, made anew, transformed...in other words we become a Christian.
Now is this easy? No! Is it tough? Yes! But does it show God's love? Yes! Does it bring God Glory? Yes! And friends that all that matters. Stay focused, you can do this.
"In His JOY!"
The servant goes home rejoicing in his forgiveness. However he sees someone who owes him debt. Not mind you the debt was not as great as the debt the servant owed his master. The debt the servant owed his master could not be counted. But here we are, the servant demanding his small debt be paid off now! The debtor pleaded for mercy but the servant refused to hear his plea and had the debtor jailed until his debt was paid in full.
Well the master was informed of what had happened and immediately summoned the servant to be brought before him. And this time mercy was not on the agenda. The master was furious and could not understand how someone who was forgiven so much could not forgive so little, how could they be so wicked and not show mercy? The master sent the servant to jail to pay a debt he could not afford.
The Word reminds us in the end that God will treat those who refuse to forgive the same. He will treat them as a wicked servant. This begs the question, are you the wicked servant who will not forgive? Are you unwilling to forgive someone? Are you so committed to holding on to your unforgiveness that you are willing to suffer Hell?
Friends mercy will always triumph justice. Mercy overrides our feelings. Mercy does not need to receive an apology, it only needs to offer forgiveness. If you are so focused on receiving justice instead of giving mercy then God makes it very clear, He will do the same. He will not seek mercy on the debt you owe Him, He will seek justice and justice alone. Now I ask you is that a load or a burden you can bear on your own?
But how do we forgive those who have wronged us. We forgive them day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, and second by second. We never stop forgiving. We study the Word and search the scriptures to understand forgiveness better. We pray for those who we feel we have wronged and openly forgive them. We contact those who have been on our "naughty" list and offer forgiveness. We focus on God's love instead of our hate. We become born again, made anew, transformed...in other words we become a Christian.
Now is this easy? No! Is it tough? Yes! But does it show God's love? Yes! Does it bring God Glory? Yes! And friends that all that matters. Stay focused, you can do this.
"In His JOY!"
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