I forgive but I do not forget!"
This quote is one of the popular, if not the famous statement, that we can hear or read in social networking posts coming from persons who received pains, betrayals, sorrows, and troubles from family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. It is a sad situation to witness that once best of friends with their number of years of great relationship will simply be ruined because of sinning against each other that reach ones limit. Then when they start talking to each other, they will learn the things that they hate from each other before, although they have already forgiven themselves before, but it was not really forgotten.
This kind of relationship and situation are becoming very popular now. Worst thing a person can do to others is to retaliate verbally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. We tend to cast curses, slander, or do the same way how it was done to us even to point of threatening others’ lives. Scary but true. It is simply because evil is taking that opportunity where a person is most vulnerable and that's when they are in their burning anger.
I was reminded by the Bible verse in 1 Peter 3:9 which says "Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing." We mostly forget about this simple principle of acting graciously when we received evil and insult from others. Even Jesus teaching says that when someone strike us on our cheek, we turn the other as well (Matthew 5:39). Jesus knows that the person in anger is not fully aware of what he is going through. These people who are causing us pains are probably experiencing hatreds, sufferings, addictions, sins, troubles and problems; and reacting with same anger may not help them at all if the intention is to simply keep them away.
People in anger need help, they may be waiting for a blessing to come such us understanding, comfort, companion, sympathy, and the like. Instead of us returning them with evil and insult, why don't we try to bless them instead? Because with that humble attitude towards the others; you are already sharing the blessings that you have also received from Jesus --- the new you that bears the image of God. Therefore as a new creation, let us remember 1 Peter 3:8 - "Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble." Learn to be a blessing to everyone and not a curse.
God bless everyone!
This quote is one of the popular, if not the famous statement, that we can hear or read in social networking posts coming from persons who received pains, betrayals, sorrows, and troubles from family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers. It is a sad situation to witness that once best of friends with their number of years of great relationship will simply be ruined because of sinning against each other that reach ones limit. Then when they start talking to each other, they will learn the things that they hate from each other before, although they have already forgiven themselves before, but it was not really forgotten.
This kind of relationship and situation are becoming very popular now. Worst thing a person can do to others is to retaliate verbally, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually. We tend to cast curses, slander, or do the same way how it was done to us even to point of threatening others’ lives. Scary but true. It is simply because evil is taking that opportunity where a person is most vulnerable and that's when they are in their burning anger.
I was reminded by the Bible verse in 1 Peter 3:9 which says "Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing." We mostly forget about this simple principle of acting graciously when we received evil and insult from others. Even Jesus teaching says that when someone strike us on our cheek, we turn the other as well (Matthew 5:39). Jesus knows that the person in anger is not fully aware of what he is going through. These people who are causing us pains are probably experiencing hatreds, sufferings, addictions, sins, troubles and problems; and reacting with same anger may not help them at all if the intention is to simply keep them away.
People in anger need help, they may be waiting for a blessing to come such us understanding, comfort, companion, sympathy, and the like. Instead of us returning them with evil and insult, why don't we try to bless them instead? Because with that humble attitude towards the others; you are already sharing the blessings that you have also received from Jesus --- the new you that bears the image of God. Therefore as a new creation, let us remember 1 Peter 3:8 - "Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble." Learn to be a blessing to everyone and not a curse.
God bless everyone!
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