TOO PROUD TO FORGIVE
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries / Middle Tennessee 7/6/2017
Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
I heard a little saying some time ago that speaks about un-forgiveness, and it struck a chord with me. “ Unforgiveness is like setting yourself on fire with the hopes that the recipient will die of smoke inhalation.” As I thought how ridiculous this sounded, I realized that the unforgiving person or individual had to be an extremely, stubborn person. And, not only a stubborn person, but a very prideful person. Unforgiveness is born out of pride.
People are often “Too Proud to Forgive.” One refuses to humble themselves regardless of the trespass. I acknowledge that some sins against another are very grievous. But so many wrong-doings against another are very petty. Jesus didn’t measure one trespass angainst another trespass.
In Matthew 18:22, (regarding forgiveness), “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven” So do you see how important forgiveness is to Jesus? If we truly are a follower of Christ, we must adhere to His words. Mark 12:31 Jesus spoke, “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
All of us need to examine our own lives and not compare ourselves with others (from 2 Cor 13:5) for by comparing ourselves with others, we’re wrong. 2 Cor 10:12 "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." Comparing ourselves with others is prideful. Pride is mentioned 49 times in the Bible (KJV) and most of those are warnings to us. I don’t usually use slogans from church signs, but when it touches my heart I often remember them. This one I remember. ‘Forgiveness: Don’t allow your pride to remember what your heart should forget.’
The Bible says in 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” When one feels he or she is “above” or better than another, sometimes they feel they do not have to ask anyone for forgiveness. Pride makes them feel like saying those two little words, “I’m wrong,” 'is not needed', and asking forgiveness from one you have wronged, even in a small way, is not required. Young people, please teach your children to forgive even at an early age and to ask others, they have wronged, to forgive them. Train up a child from an early age (Pro 22:6). In the Bible, 1 John 2:17 reads “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” In the end, it could mean a matter of life and death. Train them up in a loving Biblical way.
Friends, the Bible reads, God is not mocked. We will all reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Pridefulness can be sown at an early age and one of the problems that come with it, is un-forgiveness. Galatians 6:8b reads: “ . . .but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”. Ask God to help you with your stiff neck and for Him to give you a forgiving Spirit. Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them’ (Luke 23:34a).” He forgave the ones who killed Him. Don’t allow pride to kill you.
Ask Christ to release this sin and the all others by receiving Jesus today. Ask Jesus to forgive you – that is the first step. He will change your life, and I know, you will want to repent and follow Him (John 12:26). “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Rom 10:13) That’s His promise to you.
Thanks for "Taking Five" – Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries of Middle Tennessee
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