DN Forgiving Others 8/21/2007
- From: Peter G. Chase <pchase@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:02:20 -0400
DRAWING NEAR
August 21
Forgiving Others
"[Love] does not take into account a wrong suffered" (1 Cor.
13:5).
If you love someone, you won't keep a record of their offenses.
It is reported that when the Moravian missionaries first went to the
Eskimos, they couldn't find a word in their language for forgiveness.
They had to combine a series of shorter words into one compound word:
Issumagijoujungnainermik. Although the word appears formidable, its
meaning is beautiful, being translated: "Not-being-able-to-think
-about-it-anymore."
You've probably noticed that unforgiving people usually have good
memories. Some can hold a grudge for a lifetime. But love never keeps
a record of wrongs committed against it. It forgives and is unable to
think about them anymore.
That's what Paul had in mind when he said that love "does not take
into account a wrong suffered" (1 Cor. 13:5). The Greek word
translated "take into account" was used of the entries in a
bookkeeper's ledger. Those entries helped the bookkeeper remember the
nature of each financial transaction. In contrast, love never keeps a
record or holds others accountable for the wrongs they've committed
against it.
The greatest example of that kind of love is God Himself. Romans 4:8
says, "Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into
account." Second Corinthians 5:19 adds, "God was in Christ
reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses
against them."
Every sin we commit as believers is an offense against God, but He
never charges them to our account. We are in Christ, who bore our
penalty on the cross. When we sin, we are immediately forgiven.
If you love others, you'll forgive them as God has forgiven you.
Instead of holding them accountable for their offenses, you'll look
beyond their sin to their potential in Christ. You'll heed Paul's
admonition to "be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each
other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Eph. 4:32).
That's the character of true love.
Suggestions for Prayer:
Is there someone from whom you've been withholding forgiveness?
If so, recognize it as sin and confess it to the Lord. Then be
reconciled to that person right away. Thank God that He doesn't
keep an account of your sins (cf. Ps. 130:3).
For Further Study:
What does Matthew 18:21-35 say about forgiving others?
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~~~
Psalm 130:3
3 If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless
His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with
lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is
renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executes righteousness And justice for all who are
oppressed.
7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of
Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in
mercy.
9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger
forever.
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us
according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His
mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our
transgressions from us.
13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who
fear Him.
14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so
he flourishes.
16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place
remembers it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On
those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,
18 To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His
commandments to do them.
19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom
rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His
word, Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do
His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works, In all places of His dominion.
Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my
brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but
up to seventy times seven.
23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who
wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him
who owed him ten thousand talents.
25 "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be
sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that
payment be made.
26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master,
have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion,
released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him
by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!'
29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him,
saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'
30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he
should pay the debt.
31 "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were
very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You
wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,
just as I had pity on you?'
34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers
until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from
his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
letters@xxxxxxx
NOTE for those of you reading via newsgroups: If you wish to reach
me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase@xxxxxxxxxx
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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