LET THE MIND BE A CONDUIT OF PEACE – FORGIVENESS. PT 4
Unforgiveness manifests in ways we don’t expect. It manifests as a physical sickness and then, with a sudden “explosion” over small things, or a heavy cloud of exhaustion that we can’t seem to shake. We are filled with anger. But anger is a fire that doesn’t go out just because you’ve closed the door.
First, we can at least recognize that the Bible commands Christians to forgive. Matthew 6:15 – “… but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Caution!
Unforgiveness and anger are two sides of the Coin – but they are the same here. “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Joyce Meyer.
When we don’t want to forgive because we have so many excuses/thoughts about finding ways to pay back in kind, these lingering thoughts aggravate us more than the one who hurts us. In short, the culprits live in our heads “rent-free” every passing day we hold on to not wanting to forgive.
Ask yourself this question: If I am unforgiving and full of anger, what do I feel? Whether you have an answer or not, you are like a volcano full of lava and on a countdown, ready to erupt at any moment.
When we keep resentment inside us, it doesn’t disappear; it settles into our bones and our spirits, eventually creating hot lava beneath us ready to explode.
What Scripture tells us may seem strange, but the word of God is always true. Hence, the Biblical solution is total forgiveness for those who hurt us. Always remember this truth and fact.
You can’t go against the Lord’s instruction. It doesn’t mean the person is off the hook, but you can’t avenge it as the Lord would. “Vengeance is of the Lord,” says the Lord. So who are you to fight with? Do you want to fight on and hold on to Unforgiveness? God is clear that everyone will give an account of their life.
We are not to seek vengeance for the very reason that God has promised he will seek vengeance. When you forgive, you are not letting the person go free from vengeance.
When you forgive the person that has hurt you, you are just reporting the case to the authority, the Lord who matters in this case and who gets to carry out the vengeance.
In other words, “let it GO, and let God, who is the judge who justifies and doesn’t let go, deal with it.” You can forgive your enemies as the Scripture says, because you know that the final arbiter, our God, will not forgive them.
How often are you forgiven by the Lord? Do you know? This is what the Scripture tells us directly below without mincing words, from what JESUS said about those who do not forgive – “The Unforgiving Servant.”
“And in anger his master delivered him [the unforgiving servant] to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not FORGIVE your brother from your HEART” [Matthew18:34-35, ESV].
Note above that Jesus is reminding us of his abundant grace of forgiveness for us, and continues to do so daily. So if God has forgiven you, and continues to do so, why would you refuse to forgive others?
Refusing to forgive others would place judgment on you because you have already received the gift of grace from Christ and you continue to enjoy it. So why wouldn’t you forgive others and continue to receive the gift of grace already given by Christ?
As Christians, we know that the Scriptures have revealed to us in Christ Jesus how to live a peaceful life with our siblings, families, friends, neighbours, co-workers, and all others in general, including the aforementioned, who have willfully schemed against us or grudgingly hurt others. But do we get it; do we let the hurt GO so we can forgive? No, we don’t.
Letting it GO and forgive. This is the realism of the debate we Christians argue when we want it our way, but not debatable before our Lord Jesus, who sacrificed his blood and died painfully on the Cross for our Father in Heaven to FORGIVE us all our sins, so that we can have Salvation for everlasting life.
The scripture reminds us to be peaceful irrespective of who has hurt us. The devil knows where it hurts, and what to do to attack and cause fracas among God’s elect that will be difficult for those with limited or inadequate spiritual maturity.
We are constantly advised as Christians to release such hurt from our thoughts and let it go and forgive. Not simple, but the gospel truth is that you will never have peace yourself if you don’t let it GO.
So refusing to let the hurt GO is Unforgiveness. Unforgiveness is a demonic spirit. Unforgiveness is satanic. If you don’t forgive yourself, you can never forgive others. So this is where many Christians get caught up in a rock and hard situation if they are not spiritually mature.
The more you keep the hurt, the more the devil plays in your mind with tricks, outlining plans as to how to pay back the one who has hurt you.
Let us look at Isaiah 26:3. It states, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” [ESV]
So here is the thing – “the thing” called Unforgiveness. Without any dictionary definitions from the examples pointed out, unforgiveness occurs when any of the above factors occur in our relationships with others in contempt of the trust we hold for each other, or between others.
Looking into this verse from the Apostle Peter, he reminds all followers of Christ that, whatever the magnitude or complexity of your hurt or betrayal is, direct it and cast it all to the Lord. “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” [1 Peter 5:7, ESV]. Overthinking will kill your peace. Pray and leave it to God.
If your mind is fixed on Christ Jesus, you shall enjoy perfect peace; in other words, if you fill your mind with the Holy Scriptures, there will be perfect peace in your life, and you will never allow the devil to use your mind as a control center in circumstances like these.
The Apostle Paul encourages us that: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”[ Romans 12:18, ESV]
That said, we should seek peace to the degree we are capable with prayers, as it is not by our might but by the Spirit of the Lord, trusting the Lord with confidence and faith.
Keep the Faith and keep Hope alive.
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