"A Most Difficult Thing"

“A Most Difficult Thing”

 

“So watch yourselves.  “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them.  Even if they sin against you seven times a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”      Luke 17:3-4

 

In my humble opinion, I believe that FORGIVENESS is one of the MOST DIFFICULT THINGS for a person to do.  Christians aren’t PERFECT, and we, God’s Children are tempted to SIN and sometimes we sin against each other.  This Scripture is the Words of the Lord Jesus as He tells us HOW we should FORGIVE each other as BROTHERS and SISTERS in God’s Family.

 

If we are the ONE who MUST do the FORGIVING, we are told to first of all REBUKE the one that has SINNED against us.  REBUKE means to REPRIMAND or to SHARPLY SCOLD.   So we are to do this with LOVE in our HEART for the one who has sinned against us.  And if then, they REPENT, it is up to us TO FORGIVE them.  This is a MOST DIFFICULT THING to do, but NEVERTHELESS, we are to do it. 

 

Even if they CONTINUE to do it SEVEN TIMES in a day, and if they REPENT SEVEN TIMES, we MUST FORGIVE them, EACH time.  We are to FORGIVE as the Lord has FORGIVEN us.  The ONLY WAY for us to be able to do that is through the WORK of God’s HOLY SPIRIT, which indwells EVERY TRUE BELIEVER. 

 

I cannot help, but wonder, what is the MOST DIFFICULT THING to do?  Is it MORE DIFFICULT to go to the one you have sinned against and say that you REPENT of the sin?  Or is it MORE DIFFICULT to FORGIVE the person who has committed the sin against you? 

 

Whatever, you think is the MOST DIFFICULT THING to do.  The thing to REMEMBER, is REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS are linked together.  We cannot receive God’s FORGIVENESS of our sins until we REPENT of those sins.   1 John 1:9 tells us:  “If we CONFESS (repent) our sins, He is FAITHFUL and JUST and will FOGIVE us our sins.”  Have you REPENTED or CONFESSED your sins to God?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you are NOT His Child and are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY OF ESCAPE.  In order to change your ETERNAL DESTINY, you MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in HEAVEN, making intercession for you, before GOD.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and be able to carry out two of the MOST DIFFICULT THINGS to do REPENT and FORGIVE, with the HELP of God’s Holy Spirit.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!