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Full-on Forgiveness
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Matthew 5:43-35 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.
Listen to the radio broadcast of Full-on Forgiveness
Download audio fileYou’ve heard that saying no doubt: “Don’t get angry, get even!” When someone hurts you exact some sweet revenge. That’ll make you feel better. As seductive as that sounds though, it actually just makes you feel worse.
Forgiveness is a word that we toss around as though it’s something simple to achieve. If someone’s hurt you, sure, just forgive them – done and dusted, let’s move on. But hang on, just hang on a cotton-pickin’ minute; if you’ve ever tried to forgive someone who’s really hurt you, you know that it’s just not an easy thing to do. And that, right there, is why so many have the destructive darkness of unforgiveness lurking deep in their hearts.
So … question: how do you forgive someone? That’s the point isn’t it? Exactly how do you let go of the right for recompense, restitution and, let’s be blunt about it … revenge? Well, here’s Jesus’ solution:
Matthew 5:43-45 You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. If you do this, you will be children who are truly like your Father in heaven. He lets the sun rise for all people, whether they are good or bad. He sends rain to those who do right and to those who do wrong.
What?! Why would you love your enemy and pray for them? Because that’s what Jesus is telling you to do, and let me tell you from my own bitter, painful experience – it works.
Love your enemies and pray for them.
The more they’ve hurt you, the more you should love them. The more they’ve hurt you, the more you should pray for them. And God will reward you with the gift of forgiveness.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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