I am
preaching through a series called “Forgotten Virtues”, and the past few weeks
have been somewhat of a wakeup call to the countless things that seem to be
missing from today’s culture.
There
is a lack of families and couples connecting with each other. There is a lack of honesty in almost every
area of life. There is a lack of
compassion from many people when you see a person hurting or in need. Do you know what I am talking about? This is a busy time. I live that fact, and it appears that I love
it cause it has become the norm. Maybe I
really am longing for a simpler time.
Make allowance for each other’s faults,
and forgive anyone who offends
you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.
We all
deal with forgiveness. Some
circumstances need lots of forgiveness.
Other situations aren’t so important, at least it seems that way. Yet forgiveness is a way of life. It ought to be part of our daily lives as we
give it and receive it.
I want
to suggest that forgiveness is a lost art as well as a forgotten virtue. Would we rather hold a grudge than to
forgive?
Jesus
told a story in Matthew 18:21-35 about a man who was forgiven the huge amount
that he owed, but the same man turned to a person that owed him much less and
was unkind and made sure the person was punished. I see this happen from time to time, and it
grieves me. God has forgiven us. Stop justifying or categorizing sin. God has forgiven all of them, and when God
forgives us and we understand His forgiveness, our lives will change. The way we treat others will change.
Have
you seen forgiveness given around you lately?
I have, and it humbled me big time.
I was almost shocked. It touched
my heart. Is there someone you need to
forgive? Maybe that someone you need to
forgive is yourself.
In the
same Scripture of Matthew 18 Jesus and Peter talked about forgiving, and Peter
asked how many times he ought to forgive someone. Peter thought he was being generous saying he
would forgive up to 7 times. But Jesus
said he ought to forgive 490 times, 70 times 7.
That is a huge statement. It is
not about forgiving a person 490 times.
It is about living a lifestyle of forgiveness.
Even if that person wrongs you seven
times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”
A
painter prepares his canvass with all the colors and brushes he needs to create
art that will catch the eyes of others.
An athlete prepares for their event by putting on their uniform and
getting their gear in order so they can compete to win. A Christian puts on Jesus each day so that we
will live an abundant, full life, and that includes learning the lost art of
forgiving.
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