The Perfect Person

 When we are young we look at people and desire to be like someone we admire. As we grow older we see that they are not perfect, but flawed. If we have suffered some hurt, we do not hold onto it; we forgive the person. We should want the best for them or their memory. All this requires that God be in our heart. God loves us and wants us to be like his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is the one we desire to be like. He is the perfect person. He also forgives our sins as we are to forgive others. We cannot continue and grow in grace and favor without God.

The story of Joseph shows us how to forgive.

Gen 50:15  When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 

Gen 50:16  So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 

Gen 50:17  ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 

Gen 50:18  His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 

Gen 50:19  But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 

Gen 50:20  As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. 

Gen 50:21  So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. 

Be Kind

I read of acts of violence, I hear words from those who are in high places that incite racism and death to babies. I see illegal laws being passed and our constitution ignored. Why am I bringing up this negative reality? Because we have a better way in Jesus Christ. We are to be kind. Those who have the greatest impact are those who are kind; So let us be loving, gentle and kind in a nation growing more and more frustrated and violent. We know who we belong to. God's son suffered violence and even from the cross he was forgiving and kind. Be kind to one another and be like Jesus.

 

Eph 4:31  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

 

Col 3:8  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10  And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11  Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13  Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

Bring hope to others with gentle loving kindness. Bring Jesus to the seekers and bring a better way to live. Be like Jesus.

Must I forgive everyone?

Luke 17:3  Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Luke 17:4  And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

There is a condition to forgiveness, the person must say "I repent" (even if he doesn't mean it?) In Matthews gospel there was no condition given.

 

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 

Another condition is that the one you forgive is a brother, someone close, someone who has confessed faith in God.

 

It seems to me that to forgive someone that they would have to be sorry for what they did. If no repentance, then we should remove our self from them and do not be their victim. Pray that they repent and leave them be and give them to the LORD.

 

Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

2 Cor 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

If they repent forgive them, if they are unrepentant sinners, give them to God and do not carry their guilt and condemnation. Hold no malice towards anyone; pray for their salvation because Jesus forgave you when you were yet a sinner. If you reprove a sinner on the way to hell they may say "your judging me." Warn them in a loving way and Jesus will judge them, leave them to him.

A final verse to ponder by the Holy Spirit:

Mat 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mat 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.