Choose Forgiveness over BitternessEphesians 4:32 (NIV) "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
What is the worst sin that a Christian could commit? Murder? Adultery? Incest? What would it be? These are awful sins. Many others might be noted, which would be the worst? God's Word makes it clear that from God's perspective there is no distinction made concerning sin.
James tells us that the smallest infraction of God's law is the same as breaking all of God's law. James 2:10 (NIV) "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it."
From the Lord's viewpoint sin is sin. We need to realize that some sins have greater consequences than others. Jesus told us that if we hate someone in our heart we are guilty of murder. However, no one has been sent to the electric chair for hating another person. So, let's rephrase the question. "What's the most destructive sin a believer can commit?
Can I suggest the most destructive sin is bitterness. Bitterness destroys: us individually, people, families, churches. Bitterness is an attitude that refuses to forgive offenses. Like a cancer, it grows until it destroys everything around it.
Hebrews 12:15 (NIV) "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."
The opposite of bitterness is forgiveness. Forgiveness is an attitude that honestly acknowledges an offense and then dismisses it on the basis of God's forgiveness of us.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV) "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Bitterness holds on to an offense, forgiveness brings release.
So the challenge is to choose forgiveness over bitterness. How can we do that? What if the hurt is deep and the pain is great? We can choose to forgive when we understand the basis for forgiveness.
1. The Biblical Basis of Forgiveness.
God forgave u s when we did not deserve forgiveness. Romans 5:8 (NIV) "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
What seems logical to us is often contrary to the Word of God. Many folks believe that only good people will go to heaven...WRONG! Only bad people will go to heaven; because there is none good no not one! (Romans 3:10 NIV) As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;" We need to understand that we are not forgiven because we deserve to be forgiven; just the opposite is true. God forgave us on the basis of His grace, not our works. Nothing I do or do not do can earn God's forgiveness.
Romans 5:1 (NIV) "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,"
Romans 4:4-5 (NIV) "Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. {5} However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness."
We have been declared forgiven by our faith (our trust in God's Word). If we could do anything to earn God's forgiveness, then forgiveness would not be a gift but an obligation or debt that God would owe to us.
We are commanded to forgive others even as God has forgiven us. How has He forgiven us? When we didn't deserve it and on the basis of grace, not works.
2. Joseph: A Great Example of Forgiveness.
Family relationships provide a great potential for bitterness. Joseph was clearly Jacob's favorite son. Joseph's brothers were bitter over the way their father treated him. Their bitterness grew into action against him. They plotted to murder him. They wound up selling him into slavery. They lied about what happened to him. That seems extreme, but bitterness will lead to destruction of families.
God was at work in Joseph's life. God orchestrated circumstances, and Joseph became the number 2 hand man in all Egypt. The famine in the land caused Joseph's brothers to come to Egypt in search of food. They had to deal with none other than Joseph. When Joseph revealed his identity to them they were frightened at what would happen.
Joseph was ready to forgive his brothers. He recounted to them how that God had brought all things together for good. What his brothers had done was wrong! God took the wrong and used it to accomplish His will. Genesis 50:20 (NIV) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
3. How to choose forgiveness over bitterness.
Acknowledge the hurt. Forgiveness is not the same as denial. Sometimes we try to deny that we are hurt. We may distance ourselves from certain individuals and act like nothing has happened. But that isn't forgiveness.
Joseph told his brothers, "You thought evil against me..." If we do not acknowledge the offense, then we cannot prepare ourselves to forgive.
Don't leave God out of the equation. Often our first response will be 'Why did this happen to me?' We focus is on ourselves and the pain that we feel. God is not oblivious to what is happening to us.
We should ask; What is God trying to accomplish through this event? God can take the worst things and use them for His eternal purpose in our lives.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
This doesn't mean that everything that happens to us will be good. It means that God will use it for good. (good = conforming us to the image of His Son). Acknowledge our own sins and receive God's forgiveness.
Remember we are to forgive as we have been forgiven.
We need to receive God's forgiveness before we can begin to forgive someone
else. Our willingness to forgive others is an evidence that God has forgiven
us.
The choice is ours! We can choose: to remain bitter over what has happened in our lives, or we can choose to forgive. What if Joseph had chosen bitterness.
What about us today? Are there hurts that we have denied? Offenses which we have held on to? Acknowledge them... release them... and begin to experience the freedom that comes from choosing forgiveness over bitterness. I know there are some saying, you simply can't forgive!
Illustration: Shake it Off and Step Up
A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' -- or -- whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US!
Remember FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER--PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find ourselves!
Romans 8:28 "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
God's word says "Forgive!" One thing that I feel is telling us in this series on choices, is that when God tells us to do something
1. It is our choice to do it!
2. It is possible to do it!
It is YOUR CHOICE!
The challenge for today is to CHOOSE Forgiveness, not bitterness!