Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Unresolved Conflict
Weekend Music links on iTunes: The Time Has Come, Let God Arise, Strong Tower, Come Thou Fount
Read: Matthew 5:38-45
Think: Growing up I was taught to live by the Golden Rule; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. I know the intent of this teaching was to exhort me to always treat others the way I wanted to be treated. Unfortunately I was pretty good at misquoting and using this rule to my own liking and advantage. It sounded so much better to “Do unto others as they have done unto me”. Besides, they had it coming to them. I could even come up with Bible verses to justify my vengeful response. Verses like “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” and “what you sow you will also reap”, when quoted without context, would conveniently give the illusion that God was on my side when I get even respond in like manner to a person who has wronged me.
Within each and every one of us is a justice meter. When we have been wronged or sense injustice we want to respond in such a way as to balance things out. Usually that means judgment or some kind of punitive action against the offender. A debt is owed and darn it someone has to pay! Isn’t it funny though when we are the one who has done the wrong our desire leans towards receiving mercy and grace but when someone wrongs us we want justice?
Somehow I get this twisted thought that the only thing I can do is to not forgive the offender. Then along comes Jesus and says there is a better way, “love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you.” Unforgiveness leads to sleepless nights and health problems as I continue to rehearse over and over in my mind the situation that has hurt me. In essence, until I can come to the place where I choose to forgive I am going to continue to allow whoever has wronged me to hurt me over and over again. The amazing part is that they don’t have to do a thing! Someone once said, Refusing to forgive someone is like drinking poison, and waiting for the other person to die. Jesus knew that until we could find that balance in our lives that can only come from forgiving others we were going to be held captive to our own thoughts.
Do: Think about what you are thinking about. Sometimes we let our minds wander and rehearse over and over again a painful situation. When you find your self wandering and rehearsing, remind yourself you have chosen to forgive. Note: When the hurt is fresh you may find yourself doing this multiple times a day.
Pray: Holy Spirit you know me better than I know myself. When my mind begins to wander and I start rehearsing again the pain I have experienced, remind me to forgive again. In Jesus name, Amen
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.
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