“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” ( Col 3:13)
Jane and Susan were buddies at school, and tight on the playfield. Jane was an outdoor person who thrived while out in the yard. Susan was bookish and always scored better grades. One day sarrounded by a group of girls, Jane inclusive, Susan threw out a careless remark- “those with low scores are just lazy!” Though it was a general remark Jane took it personal. It hurt her for Susan to paint such a crude brush on her school performance.
Jane did not express herself as freely as Susan. So, she just held on to her wound, nursing it. As she sat on it the wound grew. Now whenever she met Susan at the playfield she was not as free. She started drawing away from her. Once tight buddies they were no more. It is because Jane was chewing on what Susan had said and held on to the hurt bitterly.
Meanwhile Susan was apparently not even aware of the hurt her careless words had caused. But she noticed her once close buddy was no longer forthcoming.
Then one day Jane wonderd why she had let herself hurt over Susan’s remarks so much. She picked up, went and shared with Susan how her words had hurt her. Susan had not been aware and quickly apologised! Jane forgave Susan and felt free no longer carrying the wound of bitterness.
When Jesus said, “Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive” ( Luke 17:4) he was offering us the best therapy. There are many people hurting over wounds caused by once someone close. Instead of going to the person to talk over and forgive, they are loosing a lot of sleep.
Forgivenes is powerful because it frees you. Jesus is saying go over to the one who hurt you and forgive. Then live the free victorous life in Christ.
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I choose and decide to forgive any person who hurt me, for through forgivenes I am no longer a captive of bitterness, but free in Christ, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
-
17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
