"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times”- (Matthew 18: 21-22).
No life is immune to hurts. Because of our fallen nature, evil, intrigue, mischief, under handedness, duplicity, lies, false accusations, ungratefulness etc, are common experiences. Whether it is at church, in the family, the market place, community or accidental encounters on the road with strangers, you can feel safe and assured of once being wronged, if not quite often.
Being wronged is often most hurtful when the perpetrator is closest to you. For the roadside abuser you may easily forget, after all you may never meet this tormentor again. However, when it is someone quite close, like a sibling, a long time sworn friend, a close work mate, who then betrays your confidence, that hurts to the bone. Everywhere you turn the arrow of betrayal strikes. All kinds of emotions can fill you – from anger to sadness.
Yet Jesus asks of us to be forgiving. The reason is because first of all we too have done wrong and have been forgiven. In spite of our sinful nature, “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases” ( Mathew 8:17). In Matthew 6: 14-15, Jesus tells us, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Forgiving is liberating. There is such a thing as becoming a victim of the enemy. When someone you know wrongs you, as often happens, and that hurt controls you, longing for the day of getting even, then you have become the prisoner of your tormentor. However, if you let go, knowing God has said, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," ( Romans 12:9), then the burden is no longer yours!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, because you have forgiven me, today I choose to be as forgiving, surrendering to you all my hurts to you, that you take over and I may enjoy the peace from you that surpasses understanding, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
Related upcoming events
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06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
