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One of the most frequent issues I deal with as a pastor is the issue of forgiveness. There is so much hurt among people and the tendency is to bottle it up in an unforgiving spirit. It would be easier to hold a grudge, but Scripture is clear we have an obligation to forgive…just as we have been forgiven.
Whenever I address this issue, I get push back from those who say they can’t get over what was done to them. I remind them that the Bible doesn’t say we must forget, but to forgive. There’s a huge difference. It doesn’t even say we should allow forgiveness to be an open door for continued abuse by someone. The goal is to free our hearts by letting go of the anger, bitterness, and frustration with the person who wronged you.
This is not only because God commanded it, but practically speaking, the emotions brought on by failing to forgive begin to control you and serve no purpose to repair the relationship or you. Holding onto the pain certainly doesn’t teach the other person a lesson or make them a better person. Of course, when the other person keeps causing new injury it makes it even tougher, but it doesn’t release us from an obligation to forgive.
Forgiveness brings much to a person’s life:
Too many people shy away from what God has called them to do…
They run because of:
- Fear…
- Uncertainty…
- Past mistakes…
- ???????
I’ve learned, however, that the sweetest days of life are when you are found within the center of God’s will for your life...
Even as scary, unknown, and risky as living that will may appear…
So…let me ask you…
Are you doing what God has burdened your heart to do?
If not, what’s your next move?
I hope you are continuing to memorize these verses. About this time, gyms empty out because many with a resolution to exercise have fallen out of the habit…or never gained a habit…as the case may be. The same is true here. Now is not the time to give up, but to press forward until a habit fully forms.
Here is this week’s memory verse:
I hope you and I will like by this verse this week and always…
When your “Gospel” is the risen Christ…you can face anything that comes your way.
We have had an incredible journey these last five years as a new church. God continues to amaze us. I am consistently asked the story of starting Grace Community Church. Specifically other planters want to know what we did prior to launch. I’ve been asked enough that I thought it was worth sharing here.
The vision for Grace was placed on my heart 10 years before this process began. There were three of us sharing the vision, but the other two moved, I wasn’t in full-time ministry at the time, so the dream basically died…at least to me.
That’s when our timeline begins in May of 2004:
There is often a difference in…
Knowing…
And…
Doing…
When it comes to right things…things we should know and do…
You can know the right things to do…and never do the right things…
In my experience, not doing is often a bigger problem than not knowing…
Many people who know never do…
Yet…
The margin between knowing and doing may determine the degree of success you attain…
What is the current margin between your knowing and your doing?
But even if my life is to be poured out like a drink offering to complete the sacrifice of your faithful service (that is, if I am to die for you), I will rejoice, and I want to share my joy with all of you. Philippians 2:17 NLT
Would you be willing to die for another person’s spiritual growth? I’m not sure I’m with Paul on this one yet, because as much as I like to see people growing spiritually, I don’t know if sacrificing my life for their growth is yet an option.
Paul, though, was seeing life through an eternal perspective. Remember he said earlier in the same letter, “for me to live is Christ and to die is great gain.” He recognized that the purpose of his life was to encourage others in Christ.
I’m reminded of an old song. Perhaps you’ve heard it. I don’t think it is copyrighted, but here goes: