MESSAGE FROM THE ALTAR 17/01/2021
FORGIVENESS
TEXT: EPHESIANS 4:31-32.
31.Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.
32. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ. (CEV).
The ability to forgive those who wrong us is one of the greatest difficulties in the life of humans. Many relationships that could have become great have ended because of the inability to forgive grievances. Priceless friendship have ended because of failure to exhibit this great attribute of God -forgiveness. Marriages have become divorces because of inability to forgive. Murders have been committed because of inability to forgive. Beautiful homes and families have become hellish and suffocating because of the inability to forgive. Nations have fought nations because of the inability to forgive. It is unfortunate that the act of unforgiveness has led to the breakup of many Christian fellowship, a group that is saddled with the responsibility of showcasing the attributes of forgivenes. A popular maxim says, ” An eye for an eye makes the world go blind”.
It is a common manifestation to hear, read and see the atrocities committed all over the world in the name of revenge. It has, therefore, become of paramount importance to remind ourselves this day of the urgent need to forgive one another since as human beings we are bound to step on one another’s toes.
To forgive is to give a favour without attaching any conditions to it; it’s the ability to restrain oneself from punishing an offender for sins committed.
We need to forgive one another considering the fact that God forgave us our sins at a great expense — the horrific sacrifice of His begotten Son for the redemption of our sins.
Broken relationships are restored through forgiveness.
The Bible makes it clear that we can only stay forgiven if we forgive others.
Forgiveness is a great attribute of love. In fact, Jesus Christ pointed out that we are to forgive not minding the number of times we have to.
Forgiveness comes before healing. We cannot heal the physical, emotional and spiritual injuries we suffer until we forgive the perpetrators of such inimical acts.
God commanded us to forgive instead of seeking revenge; instead of bearing a grudge. Therefore, only the disobedient children refuse to forgive.
When you refuse to forgive, you hurt yourself by allowing the hurt to remain in your memory.
To be true disciples of Jesus Christ, we must learn to forgive one another even as God has forgiven us.
In order to mature in the ability to forgive and forget, we must always be ready to examine and admit our part in the conflict. We must pray for the enabling grace to always forgive and forget when offended by someone.
Beloved, the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ is very close.
There’s urgent need to intensify our evangelical activities but how can we be effective, fruitful if we cannot exhibit the important attribute of forgiveness.
Make amends today and you will become physically healthier and free in spirit .
References:
Colossians 2:13; 3:13
Ephesians 4:31-32
1 John 1:9
Romans 3:23-26
Matthew 18:23-35
Like 17:3-4.
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Re-birth Christian Ministry (International Outreach).