In the world we live in, many are the times we are left hurting rather than rejoicing. We tend to put on smiley faces to let people know we are okay with what they are saying and thinking when inside we are bleeding. We want to feel strong for ourselves when inside we are growing weak and bitter. We tend to be okay when we are not! And as we believers always put it,” it is well with my soul,” only to realize it is never well with your soul! But because you want to hide and feel strong you keep repeating the say. The truth is, not until we confess our struggles, fears, disappointments, and feelings to one another we are never okay. We need to talk things as they are, of course with much love for it is the only way we can grow to become in every respect the mature body of Christ. Eph 4:15 Instead, of speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Confession of our struggles with one another is the best way you and I can free ourselves from hurts.
I know fear and shame sometimes hinder us from confessing our sins to one another. Our prideful hearts tell us how offended we are, and that the other person should be the one to ask for our forgiveness. I want you to pause and think of the people you have hurt and never asked for forgiveness. Examining your own heart, do you think you have a right not to forgive? Do you?
Before going further, remember we are all sinners who deserve nothing but God’s wrath. Neither you nor I deserved his mercy. But God, because of His love for humanity could not withhold His Only Son Jesus Christ from dying on the cross for the sins of the whole world. That through him we might receive the forgiveness of our sins and hope for a life to come. If God did not withhold his Son from dying for our sins, should it not be right for us to release one another by forgiving them for the hurts they have caused us?
God demonstrates the best way to forgive all who wrong us. Our sins were so costly that they had to cost the Son of God His life? I bet forgiving one another does not cost us much, as it did cost God His son. But failure to forgive is costly. See what the bible says, in 2nd Cor 2:10-11, “Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs”. The enemy may take advantage of your unforgiving heart and cause more harm than good. We need not be ignorant of the schemes of the enemy but instead, heed God’s word to forgive one another. Just as in Christ God has forgiven us.
Our greatest motivation to forgive is because of what God has done for us in Christ Jesus. See Ephesians 4:32 which says, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. We should therefore learn to forgive one another whether we think they deserve it or not. Remember, you didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness, but He was gracious enough to offer it for you. If you find it hard to forgive, ask the Lord to teach you how to, for him alone can grant us the grace to do that. Shalom!
Article By Susan Akumu one of MeMA Staff
