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Forgiveness is Hard, 13May

Forgiveness is HARD.

We still have to forgive.

To not forgive makes it harder.

Let the Lord do His work.

We have to “Be Still” to watch Jesus ask the Father to forgive someone over our grudges and anger. Jesus asks forgiveness for us too. Likewise for others, we must watch Jesus at work, we must be like Jesus in our efforts to forgive… if we know this truth and still we don’t forgive, He won’t forgive us. But “He knows our frame, He remembers we are dust.” Don’t harden your hearts to His Love.

Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness is Divine.  Forgiveness is the only way. Jesus is the Way.

Is forgiveness easy for Jesus? No, He died for our forgiveness, died for multitudes who didn’t and don’t even know their sin. And Jesus puts in the time to walk us thru our transgressions, to walk with those who realize sin but only a fraction. Jesus chooses to also walk with those who don’t even know that they are sinful. Then Jesus stands by, probably in tears, when their distance from Him grows, so many don’t know how to reach to Him. Oh, can you even begin to feel His Joy when we do realize and reach?

Jesus is working thru us RIGHT NOW, we are called to actively forgive others with His Spirit and reduce the distance between them and LOVE – between us and LOVE. Is it easy? No, but it IS Divine – FROM GOD. His Joy grows when we apply what we are taught – when we forgive others. (When we forgive ourselves too)…

Is forgiveness easy for God? No, in human terms it seems not, God sacrifice of His Son. God did NOT take an easy road to forgive – He took the long road, took the high road of forgiveness in order to recover all of His scattered children. God is still looking for so many of us who don’t know to Be Still and realize this greatest opportunity to accept forgiveness…

God knows that great pain of loss. God knows that great JOY of regaining His children’s LOVE. God will keep working on us. His LOVE is patient, kind, protecting, trusting, hopeful, persevering…

God knows to send the Shepard to call His sheep. God’s Love never fails.

Forgiveness is a command.

Forgive those who knew what they did.

Forgive those who have no clue.

Forgive yourself too.

Amen

 

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Bible verses on forgiveness (thank you Google)
Luke 6:35-36 – But LOVE your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs old quarrels, but LOVE overlooks insults.

Psalm 103:10-14 – He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.  As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103: 1-5 – Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things  so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

Luke 23:34 – As he hung on the cross – “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.

Mark 11:25 – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Romans 12:18-21 – If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave I to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.  To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:39-41 – But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well, and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

Proverbs 17:9 – Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

Luke 6:35-36 -But LOVE your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs old quarrels, but LOVE overlooks insults.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.