And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted…forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
—Ephesians 4:32
The Bible teaches us to forgive “readily and freely.” That is God’s standard for us, no matter how we feel about it. We are to be quick to forgive.
According to 1 Peter 5:5, we can clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus Christ, meaning that we can choose to be long-suffering, patient, not easily offended, slow to anger, quick to forgive, and filled with mercy. My definition of “mercy” is to look beyond what is done to me that hurts and discover the reason why it was done. Many times people do things even they don’t understand themselves, but there is always a reason why people behave as they do. Perhaps they are hurting and in their own pain they don’t even realize they are hurting someone else.
God forgives! We are to be merciful and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgives us our wrongdoing. He not only sees what we do that is wrong, but He understands why we did it, and is merciful and long-suffering. The choice to forgive others is ours. God will not force anyone to do it. Even if you don’t understand it, believe that God’s way is the best. It works. He can take what Satan meant to destroy you and turn it for your good.
We are to forgive in order to keep Satan from getting the advantage over us.
“Think it Not Strange”
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.”
1 Peter 4:12–14
Christians of the first century knew nothing of the religious freedom we enjoy in America today. When they faced persecution, Peter reminded them that being “partakers of Christ’s sufferings” is part of normal Christianity and should be expected.
Indeed, Christians around the world suffer for their faith on a daily basis. Even here in America, we are beginning to see Christians enduring both social and financial hardship because of their beliefs. Christian business owners who do not want to take part in homosexual weddings have been sued and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. Churches have been told that any sermons preached must be available to be reviewed for discriminatory content. A Christian fire chief was fired because he wrote a book that briefly mentioned the Bible definition of marriage.
Our faith was never meant to be free. Jesus said, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). While none of us are eager to sign up for persecution, we must be strong enough in our convictions and devoted enough to our Saviour to stand firm no matter what the consequences may be. The rejection we face from the world is the same rejection that Jesus endured, and it should not come as a surprise to us.
The government is charged by God to defend good and punish evil, but often they refuse that task, and instead become threats to those who believe the truth. Our job is to stand for what is right. Moral truth is not determined by popular vote or majority opinion. It is declared by Almighty God, and we must never falter.
1 Peter 4:12–14
Christians of the first century knew nothing of the religious freedom we enjoy in America today. When they faced persecution, Peter reminded them that being “partakers of Christ’s sufferings” is part of normal Christianity and should be expected.
Indeed, Christians around the world suffer for their faith on a daily basis. Even here in America, we are beginning to see Christians enduring both social and financial hardship because of their beliefs. Christian business owners who do not want to take part in homosexual weddings have been sued and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. Churches have been told that any sermons preached must be available to be reviewed for discriminatory content. A Christian fire chief was fired because he wrote a book that briefly mentioned the Bible definition of marriage.
Our faith was never meant to be free. Jesus said, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). While none of us are eager to sign up for persecution, we must be strong enough in our convictions and devoted enough to our Saviour to stand firm no matter what the consequences may be. The rejection we face from the world is the same rejection that Jesus endured, and it should not come as a surprise to us.
The government is charged by God to defend good and punish evil, but often they refuse that task, and instead become threats to those who believe the truth. Our job is to stand for what is right. Moral truth is not determined by popular vote or majority opinion. It is declared by Almighty God, and we must never falter.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Before we are called to suffer, we must make the commitment to stand firm no matter what happens.
Quick to Forgive
by Joyce Meyer - posted April 01, 2017And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted…forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.
—Ephesians 4:32
The Bible teaches us to forgive “readily and freely.” That is God’s standard for us, no matter how we feel about it. We are to be quick to forgive.
According to 1 Peter 5:5, we can clothe ourselves with the character of Jesus Christ, meaning that we can choose to be long-suffering, patient, not easily offended, slow to anger, quick to forgive, and filled with mercy. My definition of “mercy” is to look beyond what is done to me that hurts and discover the reason why it was done. Many times people do things even they don’t understand themselves, but there is always a reason why people behave as they do. Perhaps they are hurting and in their own pain they don’t even realize they are hurting someone else.
God forgives! We are to be merciful and forgiving, just as God in Christ forgives us our wrongdoing. He not only sees what we do that is wrong, but He understands why we did it, and is merciful and long-suffering. The choice to forgive others is ours. God will not force anyone to do it. Even if you don’t understand it, believe that God’s way is the best. It works. He can take what Satan meant to destroy you and turn it for your good.
We are to forgive in order to keep Satan from getting the advantage over us.
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