Weekend Words

 From Oasis of Hope...

No Room for Grudges

"Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." - Colossians 3:13 ESV

Anytime people deal with others there are bound to be disagreements and complaints.  Have you had conflicts with another person?  In the workplace, in families, while driving, at school, or even within the church, people can easily become offended by the actions of others.  When feelings are hurt and emotions rise a wedge can drive between even the most devout Christians if not dealt with in grace.

Colossians 3:13 calls us to forgive, even when someone fails or acts contrary to what is expected of them.  The word forgiving is based on the root word for grace.  Grace is what occurs when we are forgiven even though we don't deserve it.

Today's verse is referring to the person who was hurt, instructing them to forgive the one who offended them as the Lord forgave.  The person who is upset should make the first move in bearing with one another and forgiving, not waiting for the wrongdoer to apologize.

It is possible the person who caused the complaint may not be aware of what they have done.  When the upset person forgives, they are set free from lingering resentments and can act in Christlike love towards the one who offended.  This is how the Lord forgave us and serves as the model for how He wants us to treat others.

Grudges have no room in the life of a Christian.  Part of being a Christ-follower is the continuing desire to become more Christlike and, by doing so, to lead others to faith in Jesus.  If we choose not to forgive others as Christ forgave us, we are not reflecting the image of God to those around us.

At the first hint of offense or resentment, remember how the Lord forgave you and do the same towards others.  Ask God to help you in the area of forgiving freely.

- Jodine Zeitler

(Artwork by Marija Stefanovic - Illustration artist)

From A Lamp Unto My Feet...

Where There Is Injury

Have you ever found the taste of revenge sweet?  When you are hurt, does there lurk in your heart, as in mine at times, a desire for at least the milder forms of revenge - a desire to see the person apologize, an urge to remind him that he was nasty to you, or even the temptation to pay him back somehow?  It was not God's plan that man should take revenge.  That He has reserved for Himself, and when we seize that power we are taking a huge risk.  It is, in another form, the risk Adam and Eve took when they ate the forbidden fruit - arrogating to themselves powers, lethal burdens, for which they were never designed.

What if God paid us for our sins?  What if He were not love?  His mercy is everlasting and has brought us salvation and forgiveness.  Remembering that, and how we ourselves have offended Him times without number, shall we dare to retaliate when someone sins against us?  Think of the measure of forgiveness God has offered us.  Think of the price.  Think what the Cross means.  Then pray the prayer of Saint Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace - 

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon ...

For it is in forgiving that we are forgiven,

It is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.