forgive

Read: Matthew 5:38-42
             Matthew 6:14-15
             Matthew 18:21-22

     Forgiveness. We mess up, but no matter what we do, if we ask Jesus to, He will forgive us. He won't even remember that you did it. What you did will be as far from you as the East is from the West. He won't bring it up again. Your record is clear.
     We are called to forgive eachother as well, as God forgives us. This is EXTREMELY hard...trust me. When someone hurts you really bad or makes you angry, it's so easy to hold a grudge against that person. Even if we say we forgive them, the memory of what they did is in our heads and we tend to bring it back up and even hold it agianst them. This isn't what God wants us to do. He wants us to forgive AND forget. Yes, He gave us a memory, so forgetting is hard, but what I believe He means is let it rest. Don't bring it back up. Give it up to God and let Him take care of it, let Him heal your heart. He will. If you think about it and you still feel anger or pain towards that person, you haven't forgivin them...give it to God and keep on giving it to Him until you are ok.
     How many times should you forgive someone? Jesus said, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times." And He didn't mean literally seventy-seven, like you should keep count. He ment always. Each and every time they sin and each and every time they ask forgiveness. He always forgives you, even if you do the same stupid sin over and over and over, so you should forgive others...even if they sin against you over and over and over.
      What about revenge? Ever heard of "turn the other cheek"? It literally means that if someone slaps you across the face, don't get mad and fight back, turn your other cheek to them so they may slap it as well! Talk about selfless love for your enemies! If you look at it through the world's eyes, they'd think even suggesting that was nuts, but it's our call to be crazy for Christ, to be ultimatly different for Him.    I know this is kinda like whoa, but what Jesus is saying is very wise...don't try and get revenge. Give it up to God, He will take care of it!

       What's so important about forgiving others? There's no big deal with being mad at someone or holding a grudge...yes there is to! Jesus said, "...but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:15) That's pretty heavy.
       Search your heart now...is there someone that you need to forgive? Someone who comes to mind that makes you say grrrrrrr...Pray about it...give it to God...and tell them you forgive them. "Don't let the sun set on your anger."