July 19, 2019 – Click here to listen
A friend of mine wrote and told me that after reading Words for the Day yesterday he had been convicted by the Holy Spirit to confess that he had said some nasty things about me to someone else and he asked for my forgiveness. Then he sent me a near sermon listing many verses which dealt with what he had said about me as though I was guilty of what he was running me down about. Now I have done prison ministry with this fellow and known him for some time and have always tried to treat him with respect, so quite naturally I was taken aback by what he said about me. It was not true for one thing and that made it worse. I began to envision these people talking behind my back and running me down and it made me angry.
At that precise point I wrote him a letter and told him that I had never figured him to be a backstabber and then I lit into him and told him what I think about back stabbers – blah blah blah. In the end I said: “With all of that said I thank you for your e-mail and sermon. I forgive you, but unfortunately it is much easier to forgive than forget, but I’m trying. Nonetheless I still respect you for all that you’ve done since becoming a follower of Christ and I wish you the best..
He responded and said that he didn’t have to tell me and I would have never known had he not told me and he was just trying to obey Scripture where it states: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.(Restored) The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
I wrote: “It is your sin. The Holy Spirit convicted you. And my reaction is a direct consequence of your sin.”
One of the few people I ever worked for told me one time that if you get mad sit down and write a letter and tell them everything you can think of about them and don’t hold anything back. Then he said with a gentle smile, “And then take the letter and tear it up.” Through the years I’ve thought of that mentoring lesson many times. I never regretted following his advice, but I always regretted it when I didn’t. I detest burning a bridge and words can incinerate one in seconds.
Yes, this guy had no business saying what he said behind my back, but I should have just taken it in stride, prayed for him, and let it go. Ugh!
I am studying 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and I found it interesting how Paul describes himself in this chapter as the “least of the apostles.”Years later he would write in Ephesians 3:8 that he is “less than the least of the Apostles,” and very late in life he wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15 “I am chief of sinners.” I think as we mature as Christians we all become more aware of how inadequate we are before God. I know I’m a sinner and my temper is without a doubt my biggest nemesis. Paul accomplished so much and suffered so much one would think he would get the mega preacher big-head but instead he began to realize that he could not stamp all sin out of his life no matter how hard he tried. I can relate. This reinforces that it is grace that saves us and not ourselves or our “good works.” This is not to say we should give up because it is so difficult, but we should recognize that, as Paul said in Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And keep slugging away asking God for strength and wisdom. knowing that in the end, no matter how badly we are being beaten, that we will prevail through Christ.
It is difficult to forgive someone when they do us wrong, but not so difficult that we cannot do it. The reward is worth the effort, so says our Creator!
Prov. 21:21
He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and Honor.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!