
So many of us have heard this saying “Try God, but don’t try me!”. Although it is so relatable and “so on point”, BUT...it’s so NOT God and what He is desiring for us to do. I’m aware that this statement has many perspectives, but I want to bring this perspective to our attention brothers and sisters in Christ on why this statement does not apply to us. This will require us to mature and put away our old mindset and old selves [Ephesians 4:22-24]. Although the saying is funny and popular, we cannot conform or try to fit into the patterns of the world. [Romans 12: 2]. We must remain true, pure, and salty (Matthew 5:13-16) through the grace of God.
Did not the Lord tell us to LOVE our enemies?
Let’s go to Matthew 5 [ERV],
“43“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor [Quote from Lev. 19:18.] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those who treat you badly. 45 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.”
The same energy that God so loves the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16), is the same energy that we too must show to others. Not just the ones who are easy to love or convenient to love, but even the difficult ones. Even the ones who hurt you. Too hard to believe? Let’s go further in the scripture:
“46 If you love only those who love you, why should you get a reward for that? Even the tax collectors do that. 47 And if you are nice only to your friends, you are no better than anyone else. Even the people who don’t know God are nice to their friends. 48 What I am saying is that you must be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Aaron Burke wrote this amazing Bible App Plan on YouVersion titled “7 Days of Revival”. His perspective of forgiving and praying for those who hurt you was a great reminder to me that inspired me to write this and share his post about forgiving and praying for those who hurt you:
Loving Jesus is much easier than loving people. Jesus will never let you down, but people constantly do.
Revival means mending the pain of relational brokenness. Sin always separates. It separates our relationship with God, but it also separates our relationships with each other.
Years ago, the mother of one of my youth group students really hurt me. For some reason unknown to me, she lied and gossiped to the point that multiple kids ended up leaving the church. I was angry and stuck in a dark place. I knew I had been wronged and I relived the hurt over and over in my mind. It was only during a time of revival that God dealt with my heart to reconcile that relationship.
Letting go of an offense is not easy, but it is necessary, and it begins in our own hearts. Have we forgiven that person or are we still carrying the burden of their crime against us? Today is the perfect day to let go of the hurt. There are many situations where forgiveness is not deserved, but as Christians, we forgive to the measure that God has forgiven us.
C.S. Lewis reminds us, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” Because God has not held our past against us, we refuse to hold someone’s past again them.
Make the choice today to let it go. This does not mean the relationship is always reparable. Certain hurts call for healthy boundaries, but in forgiveness, the burden of anger, dislike, and bitterness towards the person is released.
In some situations, it is necessary to restore the broken relationship. Maybe there is a loved one you have stopped calling. Call them today. Don’t let the enemy keep the offense in your heart.
God is in the business of reconciliation.
Prayer:
God, I bring my hurt and my pain to you. I am battling unforgiveness, but today I make a decision to let it go. Help me to have a clean heart. I don’t desire to carry offense about what ___{fill in name here}____ did. I forgive that person. Let me be the person who shows Jesus to them in my actions. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Want to complete the Bible Plan? Click the link below!
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