For Give

Believe it or not, we're not here on earth just because our parents had us. We're not here to live for other people or things. We're here to serve God and do his work on earth as it's done in heaven. We are taught every day of our lives to give and anyone who has read a single snippet of a bible story knows that it's not just a human thing...It's a God thing. He put us here to help and give to those who cannot help themselves, or even those who can.

I think one thing that stumps a lot of people about this is that humans are mean! Hello! Bullying is not just for high school, folks! People have a tendency to truly upset one another and a lot of people say they don't need people in their life who hurt them. So what do you do when you've shunned an important friend or family member out of your life? I've often wondered the same...

Why would someone go on treating a bad situation like it  has ruined their life? Why do people let things ruin their lives? I have never understood this. You control your destiny (along with the Big Man upstairs.) Well, when someone does you wrong, have you ever thought of forgiving them?

But Shelby they did the unforgiveable act!

I'm not sure an unforgivable act exists. Not in God's world it doesn't seem like. I want to look at at Matthew 18:21-35 (read the whole story I promise it's better in context.)

Peter asks Jesus how many times a person is forgiven...seven, maybe? Jesus replies that a person shall be forgived 70 times 7 times. Jesus tells a symbolic story (as he does often in Matthew which to me is WAY COOL!). This story is about a servant who owed a king millions of dollars. The king ordered the servant and his family be sold but after a lot of begging, the king forgived the servant's debt and set him free. The servant then went to someone who owed him debt and never forgave the debt. God punished him for this.

I think this says a lot. God has forgiven us, and since we should be striving to be more like him, forgiveness is something we must take seriously. It is so hard to forgive someone just like it was so hard to walk away from people bullying you. But no one ever said life would be easy or fair or just. But one thing is for sure: God's love for you is easy to accept, it's fair and just and so many things.

Doing what He asks, especially something as simple as forgiving someone else, will not only please God, it will please you. I have recently been working on forgiveness of others and I am not sure that I have ever been happier. It is truly enlightening to treat every person and situation with a fresh, new outlook. God deserves it and so do you and the person you are forgiving.

I challenge you to think of something or someone you have not forgiven, and let them know this weekend that you forgive them. And truly do it! Let go of the hurt and pain built up by the situation...give it to God and be FREE.

Have a blessed week and thanks for reading. God Bless.