Love Thy Neighbor

Relationships are a part of all of our lives. We have a bond to our friends and family. We have those people who we work with on a professional level and we have those people we have met through organizations or church. Being social is just part of the human experience. Most people we get along with quite well. That is the way it works in my life anyway. However, there are people who come around and try to make your day miserable. Do you know the ones I am talking about? Sometimes these people do things or say things you do not like. One time, not so very long ago, I had such a person in my life. This person had a real problem! I had just moved to North Carolina with my family. This person made my life miserable in just about every conceivable way. They would goad me at every opportunity and soon I realized there was something strange happening to me. I hated this person! Now, who had the problem?

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
(1 John 3:15)

This was the verse which came to mind at the time I realized my problem. I wish I could say I felt less than hatred for this person. It was hatred! I didn't want to see or talk with him or have anything to do with him. The major problem with hatred is that it is sin. Hatred has a way of eating at the one who does it. I did a lot more damage to myself than I did to him by my hatred. Pretty soon thoughts of revenge crept in my mind. This was my fault for not dealing with this right away. Now sin was begetting sin! Finally, I stopped long enough to pray about it and the Lord let me know I had to forgive him and ask for forgiveness myself. This answer angered me too. Now hate and revenge were begetting disobedience! Do you see a pattern here? This is not some little story I am making up. This actually happened. After two or three months of this, I submitted. I was stubborn back in those days and not the most spiritual of Christians. I woke up in the middle of the night with this on my mind and my heart full of conviction. I walked outside and told the Lord I wanted to forgive him but I didn't have the ability in myself. I asked for God's ability to forgive to work through me. I told God that I chose to forgive him. I then asked for forgiveness for being full of hate. No bells or whistles went off or any visions or great revelations occurred. The next day I woke up and didn't hate him anymore. I really felt kind of sorry for him. This might not seem like much to anyone else but it was a great relief to me. It put me back in the will of God. I have tried not to hold grudges or let hate get the better of me since then. How about you? Is there anyone in your own life who comes to your mind when I tell this story? If there is, I encourage you to give up all grudges, hate and strife to God. Lay them at the feet of the Lord and He will readily forgive. He will take all of the hate away and you won't have to carry it anymore. Life is way too short to spend it hating someone.

Father, I thank you still for what you did for me then. I pray that you would bring anything I may have against anyone to my mind. I want to forsake all of these feelings from me. Anyone who I have ever had contact with is someone who Christ shed blood for. Put me in remembrance of this. For all who come and read today, I ask you would bless each one and supply all they need this day. I thank you for the forgiveness you have in your heart, Lord. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Forgiveness

When I first gave my life to Christ, I understood what I was doing. I realized that all of the old things of my life, that displeased God, would have to go away. Only later did I realize that this is the work of God. In my ignorance I ran into one stumbling block that I tripped on again and again, but could not understand why. God had forgiven my sins, I could accept that, but I could not forgive myself.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) KJV

I was stuck with the thought that I am still not good enough. I thought the verse read: For God so loved the world, except for me. That whosoever, except for me. That was a lie of the devil! That lie made me try to do things in my own strength for the longest time. I was miserable. One thing I know about God that is very true. He is patient. He was very patient with me until I realized my true identity in Christ. I never shared this until now with anyone, except my wife. I was truly embarrassed about it. It has not been that many years since I learned to forgive myself as God forgave me.

There is no sin so big that God cannot handle. You will not surprise Him. Why would He be surprised that sinners commit sin? The repentant heart is beautiful to God. God can work with a soul that accepts His terms. Read this verse again. These are God's terms! How can we add to something that is already perfect? When a person comes to God and sincerely acknowledges their sin, and asks Jesus to come into their heart, He forgives. You should forgive as well. I still have no idea why this is what I was supposed to share with you today. I do feel a strong need to share it though.

Father, I thank you for the salvation that you offer through Christ. I thank you for teaching me how to forgive others the way that you have forgiven me. I thank you that you have also taught me how to forgive myself. I pray that others will not have the same difficulty with this as I did. If they do Lord, be merciful to them and do not let them give up on themselves. Teach them your love and your truth. I praise you for this in the name of Jesus, Amen.