Friday, November 18, 2011

Bait of Satan by John Bevere

This book by John Bevere is something that turned my heart around.

What I mean is this. I struggled with unforgiveness that I held onto as a self-defense. I needed to forgive but it hurt a lot. I thought I forgave someone who hurt me deeply but the wound was still there. I struggled and found it hard to get rid of unforgiveness.

It is clear what Jesus demands of us when he taught us how to pray in the Lord's prayer.

"Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us."
Matthew 6:12 & Luke 11:4


"For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Matthew 6:15


This book helped a lot in regards to forgivenss. The author, John Bevere himself was hurt a lot by someone who spoke ill of him. And I believe living in a fallen world with imperfect people including myself, it's not difficult to hurt somebody with our words or deeds, or be hurt by someone with their words or deeds.

It happens. But how shall we respond to these hurts as Christians, as followers of Jesus who forgave our sins?

The only answer is "forgiving."

Realising how much I hurt my heavenly Father with my sins and breaking His heart, forgiveness is the only right and natural response that we can take for the sins/hurts/wounds that were done against us.

I must say when someone hurts me, it is not always their fault. Many times, we can take things personally even when it was not directed against us. And it was never their intention to hurt. Just like I would never hurt anyone verbally. But it happens, and I've hurt people. And I had to cry hard for that and ask for their forgiveness.

Forgiveness is sacrificial. I must hurt to forgive someone. But when it heals it is liberating. The decaying wound is finally starting to heal and form crusts and later form new tissues and skin, and I can use that part of me again.

And it always reminds me of how much the Father would have hurt and it is only the love of God, even the sacrificial love of Jesus, going to the cross to die on my behalf, forgiving my sins that gives me power to forgive. His love was forgiveness and more than that "grace". The grace of love. The passionate love for me for my good. And I want that. With His power, I can passionately love those who have hurt me intentionally or unintentionally. May Jesus give us all wisdom and power to live just as He lived, and is still living. 

"Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Colossians 3:13 

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