Note: forwarded message attached.
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"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."
Matthew 11:12
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Forgiving and Forgetting
Has anyone ever offended you? Has your spouse been unfaithful to you? Have your children disappointed you? Has someone cheated you in business? How we respond to the difficult experiences of life directly affects our spiritual well-being.My father died when I was only ten years old. He left us quite a bit of property and some money. But several of his brothers squandered everything we had. In three years my family was living in poverty and debt.When I was older and really understood what my uncles had done, I urged my mother to take revenge on them, to get a lawyer to take them to court and let them have it. The older I got, the more bitter I became.But the Bible says, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12:19). He is the One who measures out justice. He wants to handle such judgments for us—perhaps now, certainly ultimately.My mother always quoted verses like Romans 12:19. She completely forgave my uncles for what they did. It took us twenty years to finish paying our debts, but she refused to become bitter; she forgot what they had done. Consequently, God gave her a freedom of spirit and special opportunities to serve Him. I experienced that same freedom and fruitfulness years later when I, too, finally forgave my uncles.How deeply have you been hurt? Have you become bitter or unforgiving in your attitude?I would like to remind you of the story of Joseph. I encourage you to read the account of his life in Genesis 37:50. It is an exciting portion of Scripture! This passage shows us many valuable lessons on the importance of forgiving and forgetting.The Bible gives us several reasons why Joseph could have been a very bitter man. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery. His master's wife falsely accused him of a serious crime and had him thrown into an Egyptian prison. A government official promised to help him but instead left him in prison to rot. Despite all these things, Joseph did not allow any root of bitterness to take hold in his life (Hebrews 12:15).Many lives are spoiled by bitterness and a lack of forgiveness. People go through physical and emotional breakdowns because they refuse to forgive other people. The longer we carry a grudge, the heavier it becomes. As God's servants, we cannot afford to harbor bitterness in our souls, for it will destroy us.The Bible says, "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13).After entering into the experience of forgiving someone, forgetfulness is vital. Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh because "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household" (Genesis 41:51). Joseph not only forgave his brothers, but also forgot the evil deeds they had committed against him.Like Joseph, keep short accounts with God and people. Don't lock bitterness and guilt within the closet of your soul. Forgive and forget. This is an essential habit for spiritual health and growth.To Ponder
- If you refuse to forgive and forget the offenses of others, who suffers the consequences?
- In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus teaches that your relationship with God is directly affected every time you choose whether or not to forgive someone else. In what way?
To Pursue
- Take five minutes to begin reading the story of Joseph in Genesis 37. Later this week, take time to read the rest of this fast-paced narrative. As you read, consciously think of those who have hurt you and, in prayer, ask for God's enabling to forgive them and forget their offenses.
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