There was a time where I was teased and bullied because I was different or annoying or just not cool enough. There were days where I would race home from school taking all the back routes so I wouldn’t get beat up...again. I tried to disappear during gym class so I didn’t get targeted during the sports activities and rarely, if ever, joined organized sports. You see I was not the biggest kid in school, in fact I did not really grow much until after I left school. There were times I would dream about what I would do if I were bigger. I had some great plans for those bullies should I ever meet up with them again. Someone was going to pay big time for all my pain and suffering. Then the words of my Grandma MacDonald rang in my ears and it still does to this day:
Forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us Matt 6:12 NLT
As God has forgiven, we/I should forgive. There are those out there who did me harm not only as a kid but also as an adult that have no clue how much they have been forgiven. I will admit, there are those who did me wrong that I did get my revenge when I was younger and if I could ask their forgiveness to their face today, I would. As I grew up, I realized retaliation only leads to more reprisals and the cycle continues. Look again at the passage from Matthew 6 “Forgive us as we forgive others”. We have been forgiven perfectly and completely without any note of a return to the sin for further review in the future.
Just recently, someone did something to me that could have escalated very easily and I will admit this, we were both in the wrong. I was truly apologetic regarding the event because I did mess up, but I will say this, I was furious about the actions of the other person and was looking at ways to get that person back – big time. I held the higher ground and strategically, I was in the favourable position. This was going to get ugly but then Matthew 6:12 came to me and I reached out for forgiveness for my error and noted that I forgave that person as well. There was a great deal of joy that came from that because I found out that person’s response was delivered in haste and in anger. What could have been a very difficult situation was avoided and we chat quite regularly now. How many more issues in this world could be alleviated if we forgave rather than escalated tensions?
This Sunday, Pastor Todd continues the series on the “Will of God” by looking at forgiveness and forgetfulness. Our service is at 10:30 AM both online and in person. The service will be broadcast online on our website (https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms), or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.
Blessings,
Our Mission “To live the love of Christ”
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