Pay Them Back, Pt 3 - No. 97
Matthew 18:21-22 GNB, ‘Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven.”’
Today we check out the last four kingdom principles for coping with unkind words and deeds people do to us.
6. FORGIVE!
“If you will forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you too; but if you do not forgive people, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
It is very easy to be unforgiving because it is part of our fleshly life. Sometimes we can easily forgive once, but oh, do we really have to forgive someone 490 times? Yes, it’s a lifestyle of forgiveness. We can’t afford the luxury of unforgiveness. Unforgiveness destroys. It not only destroys the one you won’t forgive, but even more, it destroys you! It destroys your soul. You will be the one who will be hurt the most.
God’s way is to forgive. And God’s ways work. They release us into freedom and joy. Read Matthew 18:21-35, Luke 17:3-4 and Ephesians 4:32.
7. FORGET!
Hebrews 10:17, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
When God forgives our sins, He remembers them no more. What an example for us. When we forgive, we must also forget. That’s the hard part. To help you forget, don’t talk about your grievance. Every time you talk about it, you stir up the wound. You will soon forget if you don’t talk about it all the time.
And remember to forgive and forget before you go to sleep at night. (Ephesians 4:26)
8. PROVIDE FOR THEIR NEEDS!
“If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.”
Read also Proverbs 12:19-21 and 25:21-22 and ask God what He wants you to do.
9. LET GOD VINDICATE!
“Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 and Psalm 35:15)
We dare not take from God what is His rightful authority. Only God has the authority to avenge. It is His right and He is the only one who can do it with pure judgment. You can trust God to do righteously and act on your behalf.
When you bless those who hurt you, you overcome three enemies at once:
1. THE DEVIL who will take advantage of a hurt and unforgiving spirit and get a foothold in your life. Proverbs 18:14 says, “A wounded spirit, who can bear?” It will destroy your life. But as you pray and bless, your spirit will become free.
2. YOUR ENEMY, the one who has hurt you. Many times it is someone very close to you -- that’s when it hurts the most! But as you bless them, God will work on them to change their attitude.
3. YOURSELF. This is the greatest victory of all. As you forgive and bless, you will be cleansed, healed and blessed yourself. Your words and attitudes are boomerangs that always come back on you.
It is not in your nature to bless those who have hurt you, but it is Christ’s nature and He lives in you.
Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
PRAYER:
“Oh Lord, I don’t have it in myself to live by your kingdom principles, but I thank you that you live in me. Help me to live my life by the power of your loving, forgiving and blessing life. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
Because God forgives, I can forgive; because God forgets, I can forget.