Over the past few days I have been reading the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. (great book.. everyone in the world needs to read it!!!) I got so much out of that book, but one of the main ideas of the book is forgiveness. It truly shows you that it is impossible to love without forgiveness.. But forgiveness isn't easy.. most of the time its the hardest thing to do. When people cause you pain or grief or anger the last thing you want to do is forgive them for it. It is so easy to fall into the sin and so hard to hand it to God. Your pride is constantly telling you that the people that did this to you deserve it.. And it is so easy to hold on to all of the anger but all along you know God wants you to let it go. We are called to let it go...
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who has sinned against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy times seven" -Matthew 18:21-22
Jesus wants us to forgive our brothers and sisters seventy times seven, because thats how he forgives us. He never stops. And when you think about what someone may have done to you to cause you all that pain and anger just think of all of the pain and anger that you have caused Jesus. Our sin weighed on his shoulders on the cross but he loves us enough to not only forgive us for it but to forget about it... that sounds like a pretty good promise to me! So without all the bitterness built up inside, its easy to love. Without the anger you can show others the grace of God.
And so make that your prayer today.. Ask God to forgive you and for you to be able to forgive others, because once you have forgiven, you can be capable of God's love.
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