Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Thought of the Day !!

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."
                                                                          Luke 17:3-4 (NIV)


Forgiveness is not a suggestion in the Gospels.  It's a command.  As a matter of fact, in the Gospel of Matthew Jesus tells us that if we don't forgive others, then our Heavenly Father won't forgive us. 

But this isn't what God wants for us.  He sent His only Son to die so that our sins would be forgiven and so that we would have a way out.  What He requires is that we show the same love and forgiveness to others.

Several years ago while I was still living in Memphis, a tragic event happened just across the river in West Memphis, AR.  Three young men were tried and convicted of brutally murdering three eight-year-olds.  It was all over the news. When the three guys were brought to trial, the father of one of the victims suddenly rushed at them screaming, “I’ll chase you all the way to hell!” 

It’s certainly understandable how the father had to have anger like he’d never had before in his life.  But there is something almost prophetic about his words.  If we allow our hatred for those who have wronged us to go unchecked, it will eventually destroy us. 

Forgiving each time is exactly what God does for us.  And so it’s what He expects from us too.

In the love of Christ,
greg

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