"The resurrection of Christ is one of the foundation-stones of Christianity. It was the seal of the great work that He came on earth to do. It was the crowning proof that the ransom He paid for sinners was accepted, the atonement for sin accomplished, the head of him who had the power of death bruised, and the victory won."
~ J.C. Ryle
One of my daughters was crying this morning. She said that her sister always thinks she's the worst. I disagreed. I told her I'm the worst. We talked a bit and she felt better. I also talked to older sister about needing to be four years older and wiser and kinder.
I really thought about it though. We're all the worst. We're all filled with sin. We might look at another whose sins are showing on the outside and think we're better. After all, our sins are hidden on the inside. We look all nice and cleaned up and Christian. Maybe a definition for the term "holier than thou" might be "My sin is more hidden than yours".
I've been really looking at my heart lately. I don't like what I see. There is bitterness that has taken root. It's the result of keeping a record of wrongs and offenses. God forgive me. I repent. Please cleanse me. Does that mean it's completely gone? No. I'm afraid not.
You see, even though I've asked God for forgiveness and repented, I have the choice each time the offense comes again to dig up the old buried sin and revive it in my heart and mind. That's the hard part. I have to determine not to be offended. I have to determine to forgive quickly if I do feel offended. I have to turn away from the past, forgive, and give the person a fresh new start...just like the new start I received from Father God through the blood of Jesus Christ his son.
I want to start fresh again. I want to give my offender the gift of a new start, too, even if he doesn't even know he needs it.
Forgiveness is for the forgiver not just the person being forgiven
Do you have any hidden sins, hidden offenses, hidden bitterness? What's taking root in your life? Are you ready for a fresh start? The power to get and give a new fresh start come from the same person. God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirt, by the blood of God's son, Jesus Christ.
Be willing.
Laura
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May I suggest...
May I suggest...
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Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness
Roses of Inspiration - Anti-Procrastination Tuesdays - Titus 2 Tuesdays
You are so right it is a choice to forgive and give up bitterness. I am part of a group that deals with people's addictions of all kinds. We write first a venting letter NO WE DO NOT MAIL or GIVE IT to the one we are forgiving. Then after we have vented we pray and write another letter this one is the forgiveness letter sometimes asking forgiveness and sometimes giving forgiveness and again WE DO NOT MAIL or GIVE the letter it is for us and God. We are specific about the forgiveness and we add and from now one when it come to mind or somethings triggers that feeling of unforgiveness we will say "no, I forgave this and I will not have unforgiveness again." And we pray that as we walk in the way God wants us to walk that he will bring the actually feelings later. It is awesome and I have seen many people change before my eyes almost as they forgive and mean it. Forgiveness is a good thing to learn and teach your daughters. What a blessing you are to them and BTW Happy Mother's day.
ReplyDeleteGood post Laura! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteWow Laura, what a powerful post! You have given me a lot to think on {which is a good thing}.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for being a testimony, my friend, and for encouraging us to live for the Lord. Also, thank you for sharing with Roses of Inspiration. Hugs!