More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
When you realize that Jesus delivered you from eternal death and torment, you will release others unconditionally.
Some believers are so tormented by unforgiveness that they may hope death will bring relief. But this is not true. We must deal with unforgiveness now or be called upon to pay the unpayable.
WE ARE TO BE SO FAR REMOVED FROM AVENGING OURSELVES THAT WE WILLINGLY RISK BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF AGAIN.
but rather give place to wrath;
When we avenge ourselves we remove the opportunity for God to redeem us (we do not give place for wrath). It is only when we forgive and release others, trusting that God will righteously avenge us is His will done.
When we seek to correct the wrong done to us, we set ourselves up as judges.
You may have done nothing to provoke the wrong you incurred at the hand of another. But if you contrast what was done to you with what you’ve been forgiven of, there is no comparison.
If you feel cheated, you have lost your concept of the mercy extended you.
But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Forgive, release, and love unconditionally.
He forgave us before we came to Him confessing our offense against Him.
Our degree of maturity determines how well we will handle an offense without injury.
A person hurt in the same manner might bring their complaint to me, or perhaps I would see the man or hear his name. I rejected these thoughts as soon as I noticed them and cast them down. (See 2 Corinthians 10:5.) This was my exercising or striving to stay free.
Key!
Finally I asked the Lord how to keep these thoughts from drawing me back into unforgiveness. I knew He desired a higher level of freedom for me, and I did not want to live the rest of my life holding offense at arm’s length. The Lord instructed me to pray for the man who had hurt me, reminding me of His words:
Recovery is your choice. Some people get hurt and never recover. As cruel as this may sound, it was their choice.
Learn to fix your focus on the end result, not the struggle.
Though our intent was not to harm, our words and actions gave a different appearance.
Jesus is exhorting us to reconcile even if the offense is not our fault. It takes maturity to walk in humility in order to bring reconciliation.
We should not go to a brother who has offended us until we have decided to forgive him from our hearts—no matter how he responds to us. We need to get rid of any feelings of animosity toward him before approaching him. If we don’t, we will probably react out of these negative feelings and hurt him, not heal him.
Important key. This also explains how once we've resolved it in our hearts we feel it is done. Though we have not yet approached them we feel a sense of peace. Taking the outward step of reconciliation is also necessary and in my opinion more humbling...the more the better.
He has laid His life down for us. We can only do likewise.
