John 8:36: "For him who the Son sets free is free indeed." We all love that scripture but are YOU free? Are you bound up with anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and the like…that’s not freedom, Sugar Pie, that’s for sure! Here’s a little exercise for you before we start our sharing today:
Forgiveness is a strength, not a weakness. It’s the ability to remove the hurt and keep the person. In the original Greek, forgiveness means a suspension of a just penalty; to release, unconditional favor. Hard to do but it can be done. There are four stages of forgiveness, as we have taught on before. In review:
Hurting:
Hating:
Healing:
Coming Together:
Need to be clear on something though…forgiveness is NOT excuse, pardon or condoning the action. Rather, it considers everything…the act, the offense, the penalty and the future relationship. Then you give up your right to punish them. Just like God did for YOU. Leave that punishment to God and eternity to figure it out. Forgiveness is strength…you don’t hold a grudge; you can still work with people who’ve been unkind to you and you’re willing to clear the record. Remember, forgiveness is removing the hurt and keeping the person. Toby Mac, the singer, once said, “If you never heal from what hurt you, you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you!” Now…take your papers out that you completed in the beginning. Time to choose…
YOUR CHOICE…MAKE A GOOD ONE!! NOW GO LIVE IT!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
September 2021
|