Choose To Forgive

I am born again, spirit –filled and a doer of God’s word. I pray and preach to lost souls, I give to the needy and I never forsake the gathering of the brethren. I’m pretty much a sound Christian. But..... I hate when people take me or my kindness for granted, when they lie, gossip and peddle all sorts of false stories about me. So the deal is, when this happens, I show my other side (trust me, it’s not a pretty sight). Ps: *That is my flesh talking *

Does this sound like you or is it just me? Lolz

  Some days ago, I had all sorts of issues with some of my friends and it lit my emotions up. I was sad, hurt, angry and vindictive. So I started thinking on how to get back (punish) at them for hurting me so much. The more I thought about it, the more my pain grew. I whined and complained to God about how much they hurt me when all I did was love them (at least I thought so).  At some point, I gave up and chose the option the Holy Spirit presented from the very beginning – forgiveness and started praying for grace and a heart to love them enough to let go.

Forgiveness does not mean making excuses for the person who hurt you or justifying the wrong but a DECISION to pardon, let go of resentment and waive any negative feeling or desire for punishment. It is never easy but it’s a commandment we must obey and a test of our love for God and for man. 

Love is a Choice and so is forgiveness. You can choose to forgive and be happy, or you can choose not to and let bitterness and pain grow in your life. But whatever you choose consider this -: YOU are the sole beneficiary of your choice. The JOY (of forgiving and moving on) or the PAIN ( of holding on to the grudge) will be on you. So, for the benefit of your sanity and walk with God, please choose to forgive. It wasn’t easy when Christ chose to give His life for us to be granted forgiveness and it won’t be easy for you to forgive those who hurt you but forgive anyway.

Back to my story.....I forgave them and woke up this morning feeling really good, I wasn’t vindictive or angry. I prayed for them and asked God to teach me to love like Him- without regret or repentance, you too can do the same.

 Receive grace to love like Jesus. Have a blessed week 

God Is NEVER Late!

........John 11: 1-44

The above scripture describes Lazarus’ death and miraculous resurrection.

Lazarus the brother of Mary and Martha was sick unto death and his sisters sent a message to Jesus “Lord, behold he whom you love is sick” vs. 3. But Jesus "delayed" – stayed in the place where He was for two more days” vs. 6.

 You see, this delay cost Lazarus his life (according to his relatives) because “ Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died” vs. 21

This is the kind of situation so many of us dread but face ( not getting what we want /need when we want it or when it seemed most important) . Why didn’t I get the promotion? Why didn’t I get here on time? Why am I not married yet?

Thing is, God does not work according to our timing or projections but according to His. He knows when, how and what will happen before it does.  He knows what you need even before you ask. It is not wise for us to expect God to work according to our timing. Our thoughts are way below His and our ways are not His ways.

 

At the time Jesus arrived Judea, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. To Lazarus’ siblings, Jesus was too late but to a God who is not bound by time, the timing was just right. 

No situation is impossible with God and his time is always right, regardless of the circumstances. At the right time, God will show up for you. All you need is to believe and hold unto his word. Stays strong, keep believing....your expectation shall not be cut off. 

 

Remember, He makes every thing beautiful in his time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11(paraphrased)

What happened to the fruits?

Galatians 5:22-23  

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control......

Last week, I was with a group of people when a young man walked up to one of us and with a smile said: Jesus loves you, I’d like to talk to you about Him”. They both laughed because they were both colleagues and had known he was joking but something about the conversation that ensued caught my attention. She said to him: you cannot preach to me you know? You haven’t been filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues”. Wow!

This is just one silly comment, I thought but then let’s pick a lesson from this. Just like the lady, we (believers) have unconsciously (and also consciously) ruled out the need to develop and exhibit the fruits of the spirit and replaced it with the need to manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We tend to judge our spiritual growth (others’ too) by the gifts of the Spirit we manifest instead of the fruits that we bear.

The difference between trees should be the kind of fruits they bear and the same is applicable to people. Just like a tree is known by the kind of fruit it bears and not by the Resources (Air, Water, Sunlight) it receives freely so also, a believer is known by the fruits he bear not by the “Gifts” of the Spirit freely bestowed upon him by Grace. The life of any believer who manifests the gifts of the Spirit but lacks the Fruits is questionable.

Both the gifts and the fruits are of great importance but I dare say that it is more profitable (especially to the world) that we bear the fruits than to manifest the workings of the gifts.

Paul said: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 (paraphrased)

If you have no love for people, how then can you preach the gospel of love (Christ) to another?

If you lack Joy, how can you relate effectively with others?

If you do not show kindness, how can you tell an unbeliever that God is kind?

If you lack self-control, how can you walk in holiness in this world of diverse (mouth-watering) temptations?

 Just as every believer should crave for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we must as a matter of priority, work out our salvation and bear the fruits of the Spirit. Remember ...by their fruits, you will know them (Matthew 7:20).

                                           

                                      ...........Grace....