To Forgive is Divine


Proverbs 10:12 (KJV)  Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

There are Christ-like qualities that, as Christ Followers, we aspire to achieve or perfect during our lifetime, such as selflessness, forgiveness, honesty, love and hospitality, to name a few.

One of the ones I struggle with the very most is forgiveness. It seems to be most counter-intuitive to humanity. We simply don't get it.

Here's the interesting part, when people hurt me--it stings---but I get over it. My ego has been bruised enough in my 55 years, that I can take it. Even with the worst offenses, it takes me but a few months to completely turn it over to the Throne and let it go. (I'm not perfect; it takes a lot of work!) However, if they hurt someone I love--the mama bear in me comes out and I see red.

Christ commands us to forgive in obedience to Him. When we show grace to those who cause us pain, we are modeling Christ. He was quick to forgive.

Mark 11:25 promises that if we forgive others, our Father will forgive us our sins. In fact, the New Testament has at least 11 references to forgiveness as an edict of God. This value is one that I especially want to win the spiritual battle.

The most interesting part is the enveloping peace that is a rather pleasant by-product of forgiveness. I cherish the warmth and joy it imparts. 

***

 Notable Quote:

"Forgive, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace."--Author unknown

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Female in Motion Health Update

Image
I am at Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, IL, tonight. I flew in last night, spent all day in the waiting room and appointments. I have a headache, my feet hurt, my burns hurt and I'm exhausted. Man, I hate it when I'm whiny. The good news is, I'm doing well. As Dr. Citrin put it, I'm one tough woman. He was shocked that I was able to travel so soon after finishing radiation. He took one look at the burns under my arm and prescribed some aloe vera gel with lidocaine and some pain meds to help me sleep.  I will start Arimidex this week, too. In the bad news department, I am not in any state of mind to write tonight. I have to be up early in the morning to catch a flight home, so I will say good night and God bless each and every one of you: for your prayers, for your support, for being you. As I promised, I will post the piece I've been working on very soon. Thanks for understanding. *** Notable Quote:  " John 14:27 (KJV) Peace I leave w...
Read more

I Can't Get No Satisfaction

Image
Too much of a good thing is not good at all!  When I was a kid of six or eight, I had an obsession. It was a food obsession, particularly with Chicken in a Biskit crackers. It was a doomed relationship from the start, because even at that tender age, I realized the glaring spelling error. I found a box of those crackers in the cabinet one day, quietly put them under my shirt, and slipped downstairs to the family room, where I proceeded to watch Major Astro and eat the entire box . It wasn't much later when my tummy started to protest. Too much of a good thing was definitely not a good thing. After spending several hours in the bathroom that evening, I learned a valuable lesson: Even the best food doesn't taste good in reverse. Since that day, even the sight of one of those crackers makes me  slightly nauseated. I can't go near them. Seems like a lot of us are looking for something to fill in the nooks and crannies of our lives. The temporary satisfaction that an...
Read more

BLOGAVERSARY #7!!!

Image
Today is Female in Motion's 7th anniversary, or blogaversary , as I like to call it. Seven years!  Thank you, readers, for your loyalty, kindness and encouragement to this ministry. I wouldn't be here without you!
Read more