-=Forgiveness=-
But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins Matthew 6:15
And forgive your people, who have sinned against you; forgive all the offenses they have committed against you, and cause their conquerors to show them mercy 1 Kings 8:50
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
So watch yourselves. "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, `I repent,' forgive him." Luke.txt 17:3-4
The bible teaches us to forgive people for whatever they have done. Though it may be hard at times it is a must for christians. You must forgive others as Jesus forgives you for your sins. As the scripture says, If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.
I was watching TV one night, and there was a story on showing a murder trail. A serial murderer that killed about 13 people or so 30 years ago was up an after being sentanced to death he had his last words to say to the court. He said that since his killings he has grieved and regreted everything he has done. He said he found the Lord and he personally apologized to every family of the victums there. Then most people of the families stood up, even interrupted what the killer was saying and sadi many things, most along the lines of "I hope you rot in hell you sick " and things like that. Well that got me thinking. What if I had been one of those parents of a child murdered 30 years before? What would I have said, or more likely what could I say as a Christian? I think the things that should have been said could simply be expressed in 3 small words "I Forgive You". Now I know the average person would be filled with rage but thats where we have to put those human emotions and actions aside and really try to act as Jesus Christ would act in the same situation "WWJD?".
When someone sins against you, makes you angry, makes fun of you, steals something from you, trys to fight you, etc. We need to find that little way out the Holy Spirit provides for us. Forgive an forget, just walk away from a bad situation. You may even get to use the situation as a chance to share the gospel. Like lets say for instance you confrant someone who has stolen something from you. You could say somthing along the lines of, "As a believer in Jesus Christ I forgive you, and I hope that one day you'll turn your life around and take the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart" there now isnt that kool? I'm not sayin the person is going to be all happy from what you have said but you will have found a way out of a bad situation and gave the other person the chance to think aout Jesus.
Revenge is such a bad thing. All it does is cause hatred and distrust. As a friend of mine just said "bitterness and revenge eat away at our heart and rots it which turns to hatred. But when we forgive others and love them with Jesus' love we can ovecome!!!" Which is so true. If you take revenge on someone most likely they are going to do something to you back and then it'll get worse an worse. So try, with all your ehart try to forgive others and love others as Jesus has for you.
:)