Good article. I think I was around 30 or 35 before I figured out what forgiveness really was.
People sometimes confuse forgiveness with APPROVAL. You can forgive a serial killer, but he is still a killer and you would need to stay away from that person. Forgiveness does not mean you have to continue associating with them. It means you wish them well. You hope for a better future for them and that they will learn to do right.
The rest is up to God. If they need punishing, God will punish them. But don't you be the one to punish them. When you do, you bring yourself down to the offender's level. And you may never be able to climb out.
Some people claim revenge is their right because of the "Eye-for-eye, tooth-for-tooth, life-for-life" rule in the O.T. But a person could not automatically assume they can do it. The case must be taken before a Jewish court and the judges decide - not you. And it was not enacted very often.
And always remember, hurt people hurt people.
Another misconception is "forgive and FORGET". I think the only time in the Bible I have ever read (correct me if I'm wrong) of anyone forgetting is God doing it. Unless we get amnesia, humans cannot. But, do you remember every person and event ten years ago that hurt you? Of course not. Why? Because you have had so many other experiences since then, the new memories have crowded out the old memories.
So the quicker you get among positive people and switch your attention to pleasant things going on as soon as possible, the sooner the forgetting will occur. Let time do its work.
Amen.
Beautiful prayer, Steve thank you
Good article. I think I was around 30 or 35 before I figured out what forgiveness really was.
People sometimes confuse forgiveness with APPROVAL. You can forgive a serial killer, but he is still a killer and you would need to stay away from that person. Forgiveness does not mean you have to continue associating with them. It means you wish them well. You hope for a better future for them and that they will learn to do right.
The rest is up to God. If they need punishing, God will punish them. But don't you be the one to punish them. When you do, you bring yourself down to the offender's level. And you may never be able to climb out.
Some people claim revenge is their right because of the "Eye-for-eye, tooth-for-tooth, life-for-life" rule in the O.T. But a person could not automatically assume they can do it. The case must be taken before a Jewish court and the judges decide - not you. And it was not enacted very often.
And always remember, hurt people hurt people.
Another misconception is "forgive and FORGET". I think the only time in the Bible I have ever read (correct me if I'm wrong) of anyone forgetting is God doing it. Unless we get amnesia, humans cannot. But, do you remember every person and event ten years ago that hurt you? Of course not. Why? Because you have had so many other experiences since then, the new memories have crowded out the old memories.
So the quicker you get among positive people and switch your attention to pleasant things going on as soon as possible, the sooner the forgetting will occur. Let time do its work.
[Sorry. I got on my soap box again.]