Last evening we met with our regular men's bible study group. The topic was "Getting rid of grudges and hurt feelings". I think it was a very pertinent topic as all of us; me included, at some point has to deal with this spiritual problem.
This morning someone sent me a little quote that said, "In the final analysis it's between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway".
How do you deal with the problem of those who misuse you or abuse you? Not easily if you try to do it by yourself or by man's standards. However when we look at the problem through the eyes of God we see the whole world in a different perspective.
A couple of scriptures come to mind. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". Also, 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins". And also, Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
If we understand the context of the message flowing through those verses we will understand that God loved us enough to forgive all of the sins, the hurts, the terrible injustices, even refusals to love, obey and worship him. He loves us enough that even though mankind has been involved in terrible atrocities against His children he forgives us. He had every right to demand satisfaction, to demand that we die for our choices, decisions and lifestyles. He chose however to give us a path to forgiveness, no matter what we have done. If we will change our hearts and love and obey him we can be forgiven.
What is unique about this situation is that he did not demand that we change our lives before he offered us a way to forgiveness. He loved us enough that even when we were still wrapped up in sin and all kinds of filthiness in this world to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. He forgives not because we deserve it, but because Jesus was willing to die that we might be forgiven.
You see, our relationship to others in this world is not based upon what they do, either good or bad. Our relationship is based upon understanding how much God loves you and me, even with all of our hidden faults and sins. If he is willing to forgive us (who caused His Son to die), how can we not forgive those who hurt and misuse us?
Like the quote said, "In the final analysis it's between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway". The apostle John puts it this way in 1 John 4:19, "We love him, because he first loved us".
How about it, do you think that maybe it's time to put away that grudge or whatever it is separating you from others? Yes, I know you can't make them like you or stop hurting you, but neither can God with us. He however did what he could to forgive and heal the rift; can we do any less?
…..Russ Lawson (Messages from the Heart) join-messages-from-the-heart@xc.org by way of Cup O'Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com) (Cupocheer316@yahoo.com) and “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)
My Comments: This message meant something very important to me when I first got it. Now as I read it again, it brought to mind a completely unrelated yet even more difficult struggle that I have dealt with many times. I am seeing again that I just have to let it go. I need to allow God to do the work in the lives of the others involved, and I need to leave my hands off. What a challenge; but I don’t want to fail the Lord in this area of my life.
This morning someone sent me a little quote that said, "In the final analysis it's between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway".
How do you deal with the problem of those who misuse you or abuse you? Not easily if you try to do it by yourself or by man's standards. However when we look at the problem through the eyes of God we see the whole world in a different perspective.
A couple of scriptures come to mind. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". Also, 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins". And also, Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
If we understand the context of the message flowing through those verses we will understand that God loved us enough to forgive all of the sins, the hurts, the terrible injustices, even refusals to love, obey and worship him. He loves us enough that even though mankind has been involved in terrible atrocities against His children he forgives us. He had every right to demand satisfaction, to demand that we die for our choices, decisions and lifestyles. He chose however to give us a path to forgiveness, no matter what we have done. If we will change our hearts and love and obey him we can be forgiven.
What is unique about this situation is that he did not demand that we change our lives before he offered us a way to forgiveness. He loved us enough that even when we were still wrapped up in sin and all kinds of filthiness in this world to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. He forgives not because we deserve it, but because Jesus was willing to die that we might be forgiven.
You see, our relationship to others in this world is not based upon what they do, either good or bad. Our relationship is based upon understanding how much God loves you and me, even with all of our hidden faults and sins. If he is willing to forgive us (who caused His Son to die), how can we not forgive those who hurt and misuse us?
Like the quote said, "In the final analysis it's between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway". The apostle John puts it this way in 1 John 4:19, "We love him, because he first loved us".
How about it, do you think that maybe it's time to put away that grudge or whatever it is separating you from others? Yes, I know you can't make them like you or stop hurting you, but neither can God with us. He however did what he could to forgive and heal the rift; can we do any less?
…..Russ Lawson (Messages from the Heart) join-messages-from-the-heart@xc.org by way of Cup O'Cheer (cheer316@sc.rr.com) (Cupocheer316@yahoo.com) and “Christian Voices” (www.ChristianVoicesWorldwide.com)
My Comments: This message meant something very important to me when I first got it. Now as I read it again, it brought to mind a completely unrelated yet even more difficult struggle that I have dealt with many times. I am seeing again that I just have to let it go. I need to allow God to do the work in the lives of the others involved, and I need to leave my hands off. What a challenge; but I don’t want to fail the Lord in this area of my life.
No comments:
Post a Comment