The feel of forgiven (day 5)

Forgiveness.

For many, thats one of the hardest things to do. To go up to a person; no matter what they've done, nor what they've said, or how they've treated you--and say 'I forgive you.'

"Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him." (Luke 17:3). Forgive. Forgive if they ask forgiveness.

Have you ever asked for someone to forgive you, and they said 'no'?

If so, remember how it felt? Remember how bad you felt when you realized you wanted to be forgiven? Remember how bad you felt when they said 'no'?

If thats never happened to you, could you imagine how that would feel? could you imagine how terrible it would be to whole-heartedly say you are sorry and feel bad for doing something? and then the person refuses to listen? The person would reject you. Hate you. Want nothing to do with you. No matter how hard you begged them?

Could you imagine God doing that?

Refusing to forgive you even if you ask Him with all your being? Refusing to pick you up and take you in His arms and embrace you?
Could you imagine?

But God does forgive. His forgiveness is infinite! So long as we are willing to say we are sorry.

Are you ready for this? "And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. " (Luke 17:4). So, not only does God want us to forgive them once, but He tells us to forgive them as much as possibe!

"Help us to forgive just as you have forgiven us"(me) if God forgives us infinitely, shouldnt we at least attpempt to forgive as much as possible?

So now, this begs the question: what would you be willing to forgive?

Would you be willing to forgive someone if they 'accidentally' took something that was yours?
Would you be willing to forgive someone if they made fun of you?
If they hurt you emotionally? Physically? Whether it be an accident or not?
would you forgive them for wanting to hurt you?
How far would you be willing to go? What would you be willing to forgive?

Personally, I have asked myself that question many times; and now I am almost positive that I could forgive a person for anything.

There was a time, fairly recently, where I had the opportunity to forgive someone when others would have turned their backs on the one seeking the forgviness. But I was so overjoyed that the person was asking forgivenes; that I couldnt forgive the person fast enough!
One thing i found out from that, was that--many times, not only does it feel good when you are forgiven; but also when you forgive.

But wait! There's more...a lot more.
" 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother.....? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven.' " (Matthew 18:21-22)
So now, not only does God want us to forgive those who "tresspass against us"(6:12) not only once, nor seven(no matter how many that may seem). No, He wants us to forgive seventy times seven times. four hundred ninety times.

four, hundred, ninety, times.
To one person.

And thats still nothing compared to the amount of forgiveness God will give; even within the next minute! Nothing! God only reqires us to forgive a fraction of the amount He does in moments! That fraction would be so small, it wouldnt even be worth attempting to figure out.
And we seem to have trouble forgiving even a fraction of the amount we should. We have trouble forgiving even once!

We as Christians should Love everyone, if you Love someone; shouldnt you forgive them?

speak up! (day 1)

Now-a-days we Christians are all to chicken to have our voices heard.

But why? What do we have to fear?

"If these (His followers) are quiet the rocks will cry out" (luke 19:40)

If we're too scared to raise our voices how do we expect to get our 'job' done? If we don't make our voices heard, who will speak? The rocks?

That seems utterly ridiculous that we're too chicken to open our mouths, that in order for us to be heard; it would take the rocks speaking?

That almost like saying 'We will speak when pigs fly.'

Jesus commissioned us to "go make disciples of all the nations." to go tell the world about Him! That's our 'job'. Can we do that if we are as quiet as though we've zipped our lips shut and hidden away the key? That's like the light under the bowl. Are we going to hide that away too?

If someone asks you 'Are you a Christian?' do you answer, 'Yes, but...' or 'Sort of.' do you hide and shut your mouth and refuse to speak?

Or do you make your voice heard and truthfully respond 'Yes.' and smile?
Then we answer any questions that come our way, or think 'Now, its time to hide.' and seek 'shelter' under the same bowl that we hid our candle under?

There is no gray when it comes to this.

Speak up! The world can't hear us over everything else!