"Good morning! Today I'm hopeful that good things will unfold in everything you do. I pray you will always be kind to others even when they don't deserve it. Why? Because that's the divine nature of God and if He is in our hearts, then that is how we will treat those who may even despitefully use us. Love is not on our terms, or based on how we are treated; but rather, true love that comes from God, loves unconditionally at all times. This is not to say we are to love the ill treatment from them, but the person, for in the words of Christ, they don't yet realize what they are doing; and loving them anyway is their best chance to getting it right.
Someone has said its too costly to forgive, but actually its too expensive not to. God's Word teaches that though He is merciful and full of grace, He will hold His forgiveness from us if we withhold offering it to another; we are to do this even though they might not deserve it. Do you doubt that about God? Then read this: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14, 15 KJV). There is a great deal of reckless treatment of people in this world, and its far worse in the church because we of all people, should know better.
The world cannot see this Creator who lavishes His love for the worst of people when you and I that say we know Him hold that love from these outsiders from the faith because of their apparent shortcomings. Love is a transmission released from lives that have been forgiven by this wonderful and loving God. If that love is stingily withheld from sharing with others, especially those in great need of it, the broken hearted, the bruised, the betrayed, the violated and we do this simply because they have treated us wrong out of their personal pain; how can we say that we have God's love in our heart. I tell you, that's not very convincing! Let us love unconditionally all people, without certain preferences, otherwise, they will never survive, and we will find that God will hold this against us. You don't want this kind of consequence, so give freely what you have received from God, love!" ~Dad~
Jesus tells the story: “The king summoned the man and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn’t you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?’ The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that’s exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn’t forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy.” (Matthew 18:32-35 MSG) |
