Me Forgive Them?

Posted on December 17, 2006

 

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Romans 12:17-21

The world’s view of revenge:

• Get them because they got you.
• Get them before they get you.
• Get them because they can’t get you back.

Jesus came and offered a revolutionary concept called forgiveness!

It’s popular today to “tell them off” or “give them a piece of our minds” but Jesus only did that when He was defending God’s honor and truth.

Principles of Forgiveness…

1.         Lay down your right to get even.

God had a right to get even with us but He laid it down on the cross and offered forgiveness – that’s grace. Why do we feel a greater right than God to get even?

In a very moving scene of The End of the Spear, Nate Saint’s little boy asks Nate if he’ll use his guns should the Waudoni people attack. Nate’s reply is “We can’t kill them. They’re not ready for heaven and we are.” When they are speared by the natives, they turn their guns into the air and refuse to protect themselves.

2.         Do all you can to seek peace.

Peacemaking is not always appeasing. Paul says “as much as you can…” There are times to take a stand and get angry. What Paul is trying to get across is that we’re to see to use our influence to bring parties together, not divide them. There are people in every church and every association of churches that love to see division. They feed off of problems. They are hostile by nature. But Jesus admonishes us to have a peacemaking nature.

            Matthew 5:9

3.         Let God handle vengeance.

The proper place to express our anger is in the throne room of God with no expectations. It’s a matter of letting God handle our anger. He can handle it!

Hebrews 4:16

4.         Respond in kindness, not in kind.

            “Kill’em with kindness.”

            1 Peter 2:21-25… We should walk “in His steps…”

Have you ever realized what Jesus endured for you and what kind of rights He laid down on the cross so that He could save you? Have you given yourself over to this world-changing, radical concept called forgiveness? Your heart may be hardened right now and you need an altar of prayer to change it…