BEING UNABLE TO FORGIVE IS VENOM FOR THE SOUL
One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.” Luke 17:1-4 NIV
HOW DOES A LACK OF FORGIVENESS START?
When someone is unable to forgive it is because there is an offense. When someone mistreats us or tells us something and we do not quickly forgive them, then this becomes resentment. If we keep resentment this becomes a lack of forgiveness; and if we continue this, it becomes a root of bitterness. If we indulge bitterness then it becomes hatred, and hatred gives birth to spiritual death. If one does not take care of themselves this can reach up to physical or emotional death.
We were not created to carry a lack of forgiveness or hatred. Doctors say that 98% of diseases are due to stress that kill our living cells. Don’t you think it is necessary to forgive?
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A LACK OF FORGIVENESS? (Proverbs 18:19)
- Thoughts of vengeance in the mind.
- Happiness in one’s heart when something bad happens to the person who offended them.
- To feel pain in the heart when someone is reminded of the person who offended them.
- To believe the offender does not have any qualities and is 100% evil.
- When there is an abundance of envy, jealousy, anger and judgement.
WHAT SHOULD WE DO WHEN WE GET OFFENDED? (EPHESIANS 4:26-27)
We must forgive immediately. Forgiveness is not a feeling, but a decision. Forgiveness is immediate and trust is progressive. It is the offended person’s responsibility to immediately forgive and it the offender’s responsibility to build trust.
We cannot stop birds from flying over our heads, but we can stop them from making a nest on top of our heads. Forgive your offender!
Think about it:
Have you ever felt physically sick after getting upset with someone?
Is there a sign that indicates you are unwilling to forgive? What are you willing to give up to keep your emotions healthy?