SCRIPTURE
25-26: And when you stand praying, forgive anyone you have anything against. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins."
OBSERVATION
There is so much riding on our decision to forgive others, yet so many people are walking around with unforgiveness and bitterness in their hearts and it is preventing them from experiencing real intimacy with God.
UNDERSTANDING
How do you know if there is unforgiveness and bitterness in your heart?
1. We easily see the bad in others.
We are quick to pick them apart and see only the bad in them or in truth read everything they do as being with a bad motive. We never give them the benefit of the doubt.
2. We feel justified in criticizing and gossiping about these people.
Now, normally, if we were gossiping, we might realize this is wrong, but because they wronged us we feel like it’s our right to tell everybody else what a low down, no good person this is, and you shouldn’t trust them, and it’s the right thing to do for me to expose you to truth.
3. We secretly celebrate their misfortunes.
4. We bring many other people down.
Not only do we hurt ourselves, but we hurt people all around us by creating very dangerous and strategic alliances.
LIFE APPLICATION
- Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
S – Mark chapters 11-16 form the final, climactic section of Mark’s Gospel.
O – There is tremendous tension drawn between Jesus the Suffering Servant and Jesus the Conquering King. This tension demands resolution.
U – Our eternal destinies lie in the balance.
L – For more on this, click below “Understanding” – above, right, and see “Mark Chapters 11-16: An Overview”.
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Posted by: Russ | February 23, 2012 at 08:59 AM