Forgiving Others Sets Us Free!

Forgiveness was the word of the day at United Wesleyan on Sunday morning. I really believe that God did His work as several released their "Judas" to the Lord and walked away without the burden of bitterness and un-forgiveness. It was awesome to see and to hear even later in the day how releasing their "Judas" to God has given victory and peace.

We explored the fact that Judas betrayed Jesus in such as way that it eventually put Him on the cross. Even on the cross, it was Jesus that said: "Father, forgive them, because they don't know what they are doing."
Now, I will admit that many of our Judas' know exactly what they are doing at the moment, but perhaps they are deceived and even ignorant to what they are doing to themselves spiritually.

I really love what Buddy Hackett said about forgiveness: "I never hold grudges, because while I am stressing about what they did to me, they are out there somewhere dancing!"

I also love the story about the preacher asking his congregation "if you would like to forgive your enemies, please raise your hand"....everyone did except 86 year old Mr. Jones. The preacher asked Mr. Jones why he wasn't willing to forgive his enemies. Mr. Jones replied: "I don't have any." The preacher asked how that could be possible and Mr. Jones replied: "I outlived everyone of them!"

It is true that the only way we can be "enemy free" is to either outlive them or forgive them! We may have to turn our enemies over to the Lord and let God deal with them so we can go on living in God's will!

How do you deal with your "Judas"?...the one that has betrayed you, used you and harmed you in some way?
Please consider the words of Jesus this week:

Teaching about Love for Enemies

Matthew 5:43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends,[t] how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.


Comments

  1. Martin LaBarApril 23, 2012 at 10:45 AM

    It was a thrill to see, on Facebook, the testimony of a person who was there Sunday, and forgave someone who had (I guess) done some things that would be very hard to forgive! Thank God, and thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tim JonesApril 23, 2012 at 11:51 AM

    I am glad to see those kind of comments! God is real and no matter what time period we live in, it seems that it all comes back to forgiveness and forgiving others is what it takes to have peace.

    ReplyDelete

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