Ephesians 4:32 ESV
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
We all have many opportunities to hold a grudge or forgive. To hold ourselves or others in a prison or open the door. The act of forgiving does not come easy for most of us. Our natural instinct is to recoil in self-protection when we've been injured. We don't naturally overflow with mercy, grace, and understanding when we've been wronged.
Forgiveness is a choice we make. It is a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive. The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13, NIV)
We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that our forgiveness will be complete. Our faith brings us confidence in God's promise to help us forgive and shows that we trust in his character:
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1, NLT)
To see the video below click here or watch in your Browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEK2pIiZ2I0
Forgiveness is a choice we make. It is a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive. The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13, NIV)
We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do the work in us that needs to be done so that our forgiveness will be complete. Our faith brings us confidence in God's promise to help us forgive and shows that we trust in his character:
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1, NLT)
To see the video below click here or watch in your Browser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEK2pIiZ2I0
ACTION STEP: God honors our commitment to obey him and our desire to please him when we choose to forgive. He completes the work in his time. We must continue to forgive by faith (our job) until the work of forgiveness (the Lord's job) is done in our hearts.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6, NLT)
Think for a moment about all that Jesus forgave you. Then, with that thought in mind reach into the recess of your memories and forgive those that are holding you in a prison. Forgive. This is our topic all month at our church. If you need some help come see us. This video above is a great message of forgiveness.
I believe in you and you need to believe in yourself.
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6, NLT)
Think for a moment about all that Jesus forgave you. Then, with that thought in mind reach into the recess of your memories and forgive those that are holding you in a prison. Forgive. This is our topic all month at our church. If you need some help come see us. This video above is a great message of forgiveness.
I believe in you and you need to believe in yourself.
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