In an old comedy sketch, two characters were discussing an acquaintance who had the annoying habit of slapping his friends across the chest whenever they met. "I am prepared for him," said one friend to the other. "I put a stick of dynamite in my vest pocket and the next time he slaps me he is going to get his hand blown off." This man has lost all sense of logic and reason out of his frustration and resentment.
This is much like the person who refuses to forgive and insists on punishing the other. He or she is holding a stick of dynamite, and they will be sure to suffer MORE than the one they attempt to punish. The Bible is clear…we must choose to forgive. Turn to Luke 23.
The Opportunities for Bitterness
1. Lk. 23:2- The religious leaders speak false accusations against Jesus.
2. Lk. 23:4, 7, 12, 14-15, 24- Roman leaders failed to lead.
3. Lk. 23:10-11- Jesus’ reputation and body were beaten unjustly.
4. Lk. 23:18- 21- The crowds were bent on unjust destruction.
5. Lk. 23:25- Corruption is rewarded and righteousness is punished.
Unjust behaviors that are piled up against you are simply overwhelming to any human being. When the absence of justice is so profound, like in Luke 23, anger and resentment and bitterness often appear from the continued unjust rehearsing. This is a huge problem! You see, a man can be on the receiving end of many unjust actions, but through much wrong rehearsing, he will eventually make choices that hurt himself (when he thinks he is actually hurting the offender)!
Snakes are generally an undesired encounter. Afterall, a poisonous snake can be lethal! When a rattlesnake is cornered, sometimes it becomes so angry that it bites itself.
(Source: Reader’s Digest, May 1985)
Rehearsing unjust behaviors in your thoughts will form wrong desires. The wrong desires will move you to harbor hatred and bitterness! When hatred and bitterness dock on the peer of your heart, you are poisoning yourself just like a rattlesnake that bites itself. However, we must admit that unjust actions against us are intense battles in our thought lives. We desperately want the source of unjust actions to feel the pain we feel, but we also quickly discover that the pathway of bitterness is overwhelmingly miserable. So…how do we find our way to forgiveness? We start on that pathway by rehearsing the value of forgiveness, instead of rehearsing the unjust actions and the desire for revenge.
Aren’t you grateful the Lord is ready to forgive you? Take a look at what His forgiveness in Luke 23 included.
The Value of Forgiveness
1. Compassion: Jesus forgave with compassion (Lk. 23:34- Father, forgive them)
2. Urgency: Jesus spoke with urgency
3. Initiation: Jesus initiated forgiveness
4. Preparation: Jesus stood ready to forgive
5. Intercession: Jesus interceded for their forgiveness
Imagine a man who has an empty backpack on his shoulders. One day a coworker lies about him, so a heavy stone is placed into the backpack representing his holding a grudge. In the weeks that follow, someone betrays him, and someone trips him in front of friends as a joke. With each unjust humiliating action, the man places a heavy stone into his backpack. Many more hurtful things happen and with each grudge a heavy stone is placed into his backpack. Eventually, the man tries to carry the backpack, but it is just too heavy. Carrying all those stones around…those grudges…slows him down, causes a lot of pain, and it is simply exhausting!
Too many believers are walking through life weighed down by unforgiveness. Every grudge we hold adds weight to our daily life and relationships. We fool ourselves into thinking we are punishing the offender when we are actually carrying the pain ourselves! Sometimes believers take years before they yield to God’s Word and are willing to forgive…and sometimes believers will take such bitterness to the grave. We struggle with forgiveness because we don’t want them to get away with their hurtful behavior and desperately want them to hurt too.
Forgiveness is not granted because the other person earned it or that we succeeded in wreaking our revenge. Vengeance is not our place to pursue; it belongs to God. We need forgiveness because we were never meant to carry that weight all throughout our lives!
Are you ready to yield to God’s plan to forgive or to ask for forgiveness? Here are five things to keep in mind when pursuing forgiveness.
The Necessities of Forgiveness
1. A humble spirit – lift up others higher than yourself (Phil. 2:3)
2. A transparent speech – I was wrong for (Proverbs 28:13)
3. A memorable state – Jesus forgave me (Lk. 23:34; Eph. 4:32; Col. 1:14)
4. A viable search – am I right with others (Matt. 5:23-24; Mark 11:25)
5. A confident certainty – God forgives; God removes our forgiven sin far from us (I Jn. 1:9; Ps. 103:12)
Forgiveness is hard…it hurts…and it costs; however, the outcomes of BITTERNESS are far heavier and lifelong for the one offended!
Dr. John R. Rice, a well-known evangelist now with the Lord, was asked to conduct a revival meeting at a Baptist church in Woodbine, Texas. Divisions and strife had broken the heart of the pastor until he had resigned and left. The county missionary, hoping to see the church revived and God’s work made prosperous, asked Dr. Rice to come and preach the revival services. He found the whole community divided. One or more deacons had fist fights in the quarrel that had reached nearly every home. Many had made a vow never to return to the little church.
Dr. Rice never did find out most of the details of the division. But with a burden in his soul, he preached against sin, urged God’s people to clean up their lives, and pleaded with them to make peace with their neighbors. Night after night he preached. Those who had been angry at others were now angry with him.
One morning, a woman in the community started to make a telephone call to tell Dr. Rice just what she thought of all his meddling in their affairs. But her nineteen-year-old son stopped her and said, “Mom, you are wrong! I have just been out in the woods to pray. I know Brother Rice is right. If we Christians do not get right with each other, we can never have a revival. I for one am going to try to get right.” His mom did not make the phone call.
In the next service, Dr. Rice called for a time of testimony. With tears streaming down her face, one woman rose to beg forgiveness of another woman with whom she had quarreled. The other woman swiftly rose and came to meet her. They put their arms around one another and wept in the aisle. Confessions came from all parts of the building. The deep moving of God was upon the people as they began to make restitution, ask forgiveness, and seek Christian fellowship again.
That afternoon the news went like wildfire. That night the little church building was crowded. People who came to church had not been there in months—some who had vowed they would never enter the building again. From the very beginning of the service the Holy Spirit was there. Dr. Rice preached the Gospel, and at the invitation men and women accepted Jesus as their Saviour with tears streaming down their faces. Dozens of people were saved, hundreds of Christians were revived, and people came from miles to fill that little church for the rest of the meeting that lasted four weeks! (Source: Unknown)
What keeps you from the blessings of forgiveness?