01/08/2017
My good people of the Lord, welcome into the new month. Glory Be To God Almighty for yet another New Month of August 2017. A month of divine open doors.
This is the time and season of harvest and rest for those who are in Christ Jesus. For he who labour and with heavy laden will have rest, and take up the yoke and burden of Christ which is easy and light, Matthew 11:28-30.
Brethren, one of the greatest burden of man is the burden of unforgiveness. Forgiveness is an instruction and commandment with peace of mind and lots of benefits. In Mathew 6:12, 14-15, Christ thought us to forgive those who trespassed against us so that Our heavenly Father will forgive us our trespasses. It means that if we do not forgive, we will not be forgiven, and our prayers will not be answered, we will not have peace of mind, we cannot prosper in our pursuit in life and our life will be subjected to human captivity.
Brethren, unforgiveness originates or is the manifestation of ill feeling, hurt or injury one suffered as a result of another man's act or an event of offence. Unforgiveness is a product of ill feeling from an offence. It hurts, it damages, it provokes, it is not pleasing at all, but God says, forgive. Forgiveness does not mean that you are pleased, condoned or tolerated the offence, but as a child of God you chose to obey God and let go, so that you can partake of the full benefits of salvation. Forgiveness means that you set the offender or circumstances that gave rise to the ill feelings free from guilts, whether the offender deserved or asked for it or not.
Now How do we know that we have forgiven somebody or situation? I do hear forgive and forget, you cannot forget because your memory is alive. You know that you have forgiven when:
1. If you have an opportunity to pay back an evil act with wickedness, and you chose to show love. Sturdy the case of David and King Saul in 1Samuel 24:3-7 and 26:7-9. Also Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 45:4-5. David and Joseph chose to recognize the exalted hand of God in all their calamities rather than the acts of the offenders.
2. You will know that you have forgiven when in your mind, in your conscience, whenever you remember or memorize on the ugly situation, you don't device or wish the offender evil in your heart or rejoice whenever you hear about evil report or calamity concerning him.
3. You will know that you have truly forgiven, when, if you have an opportunity to favour or do good to the offender and the ill feelings did not overturn your act of kindness. In other words, the offence will not hinder you from doing good work to the offender and others. Christ on the cross, in pains, yet He prayed for the forgiveness of His persecutors.
Bearing the three points above in mind, application of wisdom is important, you need to be careful and play safe when and where necessary. While practicing forgiveness, note that the offence is not palatable, falling casualty or receiving wicked treatment can be avoided while exercising forgiveness. May God who always forgive us our sins, give us the wisdom and heart of righteousness to forgive others so that we can reap the full benefit of salvation in Jesus name, Amen!
To partake of the full benefits of forgiveness, avoid human logics and reasoning, avoid fault finding or spotting human errors, which will lead to high handedness and hard hartedness. It acts as a heavy weight of set back from reaching God's given potentials. Just chose to forgive as an act of obedience to the word of God. Release whomever you hold on unforgiveness today, God will forgive you and your long awaited desire will begin to manifest from today in Jesus name, Amen!!
May this month of August, 2017 bring peace, divine rest, abundance of harvests and open doors to us in Jesus name, Amen!!!
Happy New Month. Shalom!
