You have been wronged. You have come to a crossroads. You must choose your own destiny. Learning to walk in forgiveness is a walk upon a path that is not easily taken. You must leave your former route, choosing what appears to be a tumultuous one. But His ways are not our ways. He blesses obedience, regardless of what things “appear” to be.

I have often had to deal with unforgiveness and it's companions, bitterness and resentment. The Lord asked me one day, “What was My cross?”

Jesus taught His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23 (also Mark 10:21)

I have heard numerous preachers talk on this many times. They have explained, for example, that the cross was a place to put your problems, or a place to be delivered from idolatry or sin, etc. All this is true, yet, there is much more.

The cross was a place of forgiveness, we already know that. But, it is a place that was designed for more. It is where we must also are asked to bear the cross of Jesus and choose to forgive. The Bible says that we are to forgive one another, as Christ has forgiven us.

Do your recall how agonized Jesus was as He prayed in the garden before He was to be taken prisoner and crucified? He asked for the Lord to take the cup away from him. Oh He dreaded what He knew was about to happen to Him. Yet, He said, “Not what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36 He realized how hard it would be to forgive those who killed Him. Yet His final prayer of all was, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34

As we see His example of forgiveness so clearly, time after time in the Word, we also have a choice to make as we come to each new path in the road. We must choose, most often, on a daily basis! We can choose to get mad, stay bitter, hold unforgiveness in the palm of our hand and be resentful, or we can choose to forgive. Every day we come to these paths in the road. It may be in traffic when someone is in a hurry and butts in front of us while we are driving. It may be at a check out stand when someone gets in our way or the checker is rude to us. It may be at work when a co-worker lies about you, or to you. It may be when your child disobeys you, or when a parent lords something over you. It may be when your name is slandered or when a neighbors dog gets in your trash can and tears it up all over the yard.

Each moment of the day when we are involved with or interact with people, we have a choice to make about our actions or reactions to them. Christ admonished us to love one another. He said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” He told His disciples that they were His friends. We, also, must lay down our life, our choices, our desires, our will, our anger, our resentment, our hostility, even if it “feels” or seems justified. We must choose to forgive, each moment, each incidence, each second of every day of our lives.

When we choose His path, and not our own, we reap a harvest. He births true love, His love, unconditional love within us each time we choose to forgive. Not only that, He allows us to release those who we forgive, from bondage as well! It is almost as a prayer we pray for them each time we forgive … Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. They don't even know they hurt my feelings, were rude, offended me. Forgive them Lord.

Love is a choice. It is practiced each time we forgive others. It won't make what they did to us right, but it makes us “right” with God. We are to walk in His righteousness, exude kindness, exemplify humility. What greater love has any man than to lay down his life for another?

Sigh *

What mercy our Lord has extended to us! His grace and mercy are new every day!

“Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls … Make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness … looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God: lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble …” Hebrews 12

Good word!

I know many folks (and used to be one) who have a lot of trouble "gettin over it" as it were. I used to really carry a torch for people when I got wronged.

God bless

great teaching!!

innerdawg

This is what I need to read a long time ago.!

Thanks! It even helps and reminds me today.

First time I've seen this thread. Hiwayseeker, that was a wonderful and thought provoking post. Be it Jesus in the garden or us here on earth it always goes back to Thy will be done.

If we love and surender ourselves to God and use Christ as our model it becomes easier. Christ wanted the cup to pass. He could have controlled the situation and made it pass but God the Son surendered to God the Father and gave up his controlling thoughts.

Control is what causes most problems in life. Letting go and leaving IT whatever IT may be at the moment to God makes forgiveness easy. Wanting to control things and outcomes of them bogs us down. When we spend our time doing that, we don't have time to forgive. Foregiveness is acceptance. Acceptance makes things easier.