What is with these things?! I want some fun assignments.
I’m going to ignore this question, as there is no one I feel (which is probably not right of me) that I have to forgive. There’s people that should ask me to forgive them…can I put them down?
Let’s go the Biblical route and further show how off base I am. These verses come to mind:
(Matthew 18:21-22) 21 Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, ““I don’t tell you until seven times, but, until seventy times seven.
(Mark 11:25) And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.
(Luke 17:4) If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.
(Ephesians 4:32) And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Crap. I just blew my own post. This assignment is now going to prove how I don’t do what I’m supposed to do and therefore I am wrong. Way to go Mel.
So, before really going into these verses, which we all know and love, let me just say this. If I write here who it is I feel I have to forgive, it’s going to:
- prove that I haven’t yet, and by default how I’m not listening to God completely
- bring to the attention of others the fact that I feel I’ve been wronged and call out some people
- show how long I can remember things/hold a grudge (you’d be impressed)
All things I don’t wish to do, sorry.
We are urged, commanded, instructed, told to forgive. We’ve had this talk in Sunday School, and last week I started a section in my devotional, the difference in forgiveness and what we tend to think we have to do, which is “forgive and forget.” We are never commanded to “forget.” We are told to forgive up to 70 times 7, and also to forgive as many times as someone repents (seems like a good loophole). I don’t think God wants us to forget things. It’s a protective action to remember. We should always remember who has done something against us, or what they did, I’m not saying dwell on it, but if you don’t remember, then I think you’re just a sitting duck waiting for them to do it again, because you’ve allowed them to do it once before (or numerous times if you “forgot”). “Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.” Yeah, I know it’s not a verse, but it’s smart.
I think God wants us to forgive, because we can only be close to him when we allow him to handle how other people treat us. It is his job to punish, teach, lead, convict them, not ours. It also shows others His love through us, what he did for us is mirrored by our actions to others. They can see His forgiveness through ours. Hence, the commands.
Where the line bleeds for me (aka “my excuse”), is that I don’t think everyone listens to God, hence I don’t feel like they’re going to “get it” when God tells them “hey, you need to apologize to Mel.” So once I feel wronged, I feel like it’s my job to cut my losses and move on. Truthfully, if I’m not around them, or talking to them or they aren’t a part of my life anymore, then I don’t feel angry or upset, or “wronged” and can effectively (for me) move on comfortable in the knowledge that I handled it. Apparently, I’m very wrong. I’m just gonna sit here and be wrong in my wrongness for a minute…
Ok. Yep, still wrong. I have the uncanny ability to remember why you’ve pissed me off, and argue it until you get it, or just ignore you. I don’t have a conscience about this. It’s a fault, and I’m not even really concerned about it (I swear I’m not that arrogant – most of the time). That goes into the whole “protect” mode I have going on. I did not say it’s right, but it’s me.
So, I admit I’m not the person to ask for advice on forgiveness, unless you just want the rules. I got those down.
~Mel
The previous post illustrates just how well I can argue, and talk in a circle without answering the original question. You’re welcome.
*is really glad you love me* ❤ lol
You were not once thought of as I typed this blog…that’s the truth.
Love you too:)
Some people you just can’t forgive lol I can name a bunch who did linds wrong that i’m still mad at and when I see them I don’t speak! I guess I maybe have ‘forgiven’ but definitely don’t forget, but it makes me mad when I think about it. Oh heck. What am I talkin about? MAybe I haven’t forgiven. Lol
If you’re still mad you haven’t forgiven. Forgiveness also means not being mad still, or holding a grudge. It’s even harder to forgive people who have treated your family and friends bad. I can get over someone treating me wrong, but not those that I love.