Belief and Behavior…”Forgive us our sin as we forgive others”

Hurt people hurt people. It is an unending generational cycle, a chain of unforgiveness that can only be broken by one person in the link stepping up and stopping the madness of unforgiving attitudes by simply forgiving, quickly and completely in the Spirit and Power of the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, in us…just like God forgave us. What a gift of God’s love for us! Our ignorance turns to intimacy with God by accepting His generous gift of forgiveness. Peace and joy floods our inner being and the world takes on new meaning. This gift from God goes on and on when we forgive others who merely offend or hurt us.

When we lay down our selfish pride, “but you don’t know what he/she did to me!” and download God’s gift of forgiveness into our hard-drives, all the other bad behaviors that this world has taught us well of lying, cheating, angry paybacks, unkind words, stealing, cutting down others, backbiting, profanity seem to be less important, turn our stomachs and grieve our hearts because we understand more deeply how it grieves our Creator, God our Father in heaven who longs to love us and gift us more. “All good, perfect gifts come from the Father above.” (James 1:17)

Ephesians 4, The Message

25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.

29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.

31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.

What do we learn?
–We have two choices.
1. We make the devil smile and dance over our unforgiving attitudes and all the actions that come along for the ride.
OR
2. We accept the precious gift of forgiveness and forgiving from God so that we can have an intimate, loving relationship with God and others. God’s Holy Spirit then moves and breathes in us, transforming us, changing our behavior, making him fit for Himself.
–Don’t take God’s gift for granted!
–Make a clean break from all the breaks the heart of our Father.
–Forgive quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave us.

Bokeh of city lights

Dear Heavenly Father, The world is a mess of unforgiving behaviors and attitudes that stem from selfishness. How this must break Your heart! How I must break your heart when I slip in this area of my own life. I repent of hanging on to crap that soils my love for You. Cleanse us, O Lord. Forgive us, Lord as we forgive those who merely offend us. We do not take this gift from you for granted. Thank you for loving us so intimately.
In Jesus Name, Amen