“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
Luke 23:39-43

Last year, someone hurt me very much by her words and actions.  For months, I would not speak to her.  I was very angry with her.  The Bible says that if we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us so I forgave her.  However, I still held on to the hurt and resentment in my heart.  I had forgiven her because I knew I should, however, I did not forgive her in my heart.

When the man hanging on the other side of Jesus asked Him to remember him, Jesus said, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”  Jesus did not hold a grudge and harbor unforgiveness and resentment in His Heart like I did.  Before you start judging me, I suggest you search your own heart.  Are you holding on to bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, and hurt in your heart?

When Jesus forgives us, He never holds it against us again or brings it up to us.  How many times do we forgive people, but still bring the past up to them if they do something to hurt us again?  We need to ask Jesus to help us operate in His Forgiveness, not in our forgiveness.  May God forgive us for not being all that He asks us to be!

July 2, 2005