FORGIVENESS

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."
Jesus said that we should forgive seventy times seven. What does that mean? Jesus was actually saying to forgive and forgive and forgive - constantly and consistently. Doesn't that seem ridiculous? How can we keep forgiving without being a "wimp"? Shouldn't we at least "teach that person a lesson" or stand up to the one hurting us? "God just does not understand what I am going through!" Oh, really......hmmmmm.

There are people in our lives that just seem like they do not deserve forgiveness. How can God ask us to forgive these people? They have hurt us so deeply. Sometimes, the hurt seems intentional. And other times, these people just do not have the common courtesy to think about what they have are doing. There are people we do not want to forgive because we want to hang on to this "feeling" of being a victim. We hold it over the head of the guilty party in order to control them or at least make them FEEL guilty. We tell ourselves that we have done no wrong because we are not retaliating, we are not out to get them, and so we are fine with "holding" this precious "hurt" that we have. And then we do not forgive. Why? It reminds us that we do not like this person. OR possibly the hurt helps us receive sympathy from others; OR we share in some misery with a crowd of "victims" or at best win the prize of "I've been hurt the most, so please give me all the attention". So, really not forgiving is a failure in our lives that we want to hold; we can hide it and then we bring it out occasionally to remind ourselves that we are better than the ones who hurt us. Maybe having this "hurt" in our back pocket is comforting. We "prove" that "No one likes me" and "everyone is out to get me".

Whatever, the case, forgiveness is a command from God. It is also something God freely did at the Cross. He forgave ALL our sins. He did not question any sin individually. They were just poured out on Jesus Christ at the Cross - not one sin was scrutinized to see if it should be forgiven. It was just forgiven - enough said!

Colossians 3:13 says: "Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you."

So we are to forgive others as Christ forgave everyone else (even that person who has hurt you). All the wrongs in the world have been forgiven at the Cross. Not by us, but by God the Father - Who GAVE HIS ONLY SON to die for those sins and transgressions! How can we do this? It seems impossible! By the strength of the Holy Spirit living in us. As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. We cannot forgive from our human strength (flesh) but we can forgive through the power of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16-17 says that we need to walk in the Spirit and we WILL NOT walk in the flesh. It's a choice.
(John 14:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9 and many more references talk about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.) Is there anything in your life right now that is blocking God, the Holy Spirit from being in charge of your everyday walk? Any sins, any attitudes, any rebellion, etc.? Examine your life and give it all to the Lord. He will give you the strength to fulfill His commands, especially the one about forgiveness. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Why Blog?

Everyone is blogging. So why another blog? Do people blog because they want their opinion out there and they want attention or evaluation? IDK. (Evaluation seems subjective and scary.) Or do these people just want to vent? Maybe. Could it be that bloggers are using the internet to test the waters - see if anyone agrees with them? Or maybe they are asking for accolades to their new-found idea(s). There are so many reasons to write one's thoughts, facts, reports, etc. in order for the "masses" or better yet the "grassroots" people to read. There are even blogs that are totally untrue - oh that would be LIES, wouldn't it? Well, to be honest, this blog will be just plain honest thoughts from this author and other friends - friends who have attended SEYC and other ministries that are connected to SEYC. The purpose of Xtreme Nergy? Just to stay in touch with YOU! We hope and pray that these few biblically based comments will spur you on to asking for more. More what? More of God, more of Jesus, more of being led by the Holy Spirit! How will this blog do that? THIS BLOG actually will not "spur you on" - God's Word WILL! And you will, too. Because you have a choice - to read and study or not to. Xtreme Nergy is just a reminder to stay in God's Word daily - through Bible study (from your church or a solid Bible teacher) and to have an alone time with God each day (reading His Word and praying). This blog is not an end in itself - it's just a "Hello, how are you doing mentally and spiritually?" Why? Because we love all of you and care for you. When you have the time please look up these verses:
Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:10-12; Hebrews 3:13; 1 Peter 4:11
And here is what I'm talking about:
Hebrews 10:23-25 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may SPUR ONE ANOTHER on toward love and good deeds.Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day coming." (emphasis, mine)

And that's all I have to say about that. Thanks for listening. We appreciate any comments.