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Forgive Everyone of Everything
Brian Mashburn
July 29, 2012
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How Forgiven Do You Feel?
What do you tell a man if his trusted business partner has been embezzling millions of dollars for years while his family sacrificed in order to sustain the business? Bear with it?
What do you tell a woman whose husband had just come clean to her about being unfaithful to her several times? Forgive whatever grievance she has?
I don't know about you, but I don't tell them these things. However, I have met some spectacular people who have done these very things. What in the world compelled them?
In our world, we are more likely to call these people crazy, weak, or enabling. But Paul's counsel seems to agree with their actions. He says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another." - Colossians 3:13
He then adds what would motivate such a ridiculous notion, what would fuel a human's ability to do it, when he adds, "Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Time to check ourselves, Christians. If you are holding onto grievances, if you feel justified in your complaint, if you are unforgiving of anyone about anything, you might need to connect a bit more powerfully to what the Lord has done for you.
How forgiven you feel may be dictating how forgiving you are.
Jesus says it this way: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Matthew 6:14-15