Scripture Texts: Ephesians 4: 31-32; Mathew 5:23-24; Micah 6:8; 1 John 4:20-21


God has called us to forgive others as He has forgiven us. Refusal to forgive is not only harmful to us but it is a sin of rebellion and disobedience against God. People might have betrayed or hurt your feelings deeply that you find it difficult to let go. This is not the will and mind of Christ for us! Jesus Christ Himself passed through the pains of offences, betrayal, disappointment and all but in all these, He never sinned. He understand how we feel when someone offends us yet he does not approve of unforgiveness and unresolved differences. A forgiving heart is the heart that have come to terms with God first over a matter and goes on to accommodate the offender. Hence we should always remember that God forgave us and we should not harbour bitterness so that our prayers would be answered. Refusal to forgive can put one into emotional poison, deny one of God's promises and can make one to lose the inheritance of God's Kingdom.

There are dangers and consequences of unforgiveness and we must do everything within our power and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit to avoid them.

1. Loss of a Walk with God: Unforgiving spirit separates you from fellowship with God. It separates you from enjoying the benefits of dependence on His wisdom, and separates you from growing more of the Fruit of the Spirit in your life.

2. Loss of Health and Vitality: God provides healing and blessing through forgiveness, both for those confessing (seeking forgiveness) and those forgiving. When David did not confess, he suffered physically (Psalm 32:1-5) Research shows that bitterness and grudges impact your health.

3. Loss of Joy: Bitterness and vengeance fuel wars and the disputes you have with your enemies. They always hurt and destroy you as well as others. Forgiveness, though, heals. Choose wisely.

4. Loss of Freedom: Consumed with, Controlled by, and Become Like the Offender:: Your mind is stuck on trying to resolve something that only God can handle effectively. When you spend that much time thinking about those who offend you, you are already consumed by the offender. They not only consume your mind, worse yet, they control you. The longer you carry the grudge, the more they control your thoughts, actions, and feelings. The more you want vengeance, the more energy drains from you as you plot, seek, or try to get revenge. And, even if you do get revenge, you often have regrets, second-guesses or feel it wasn’t enough. So, the more energy you use and the more time you spend thinking about the person who wronged you, the greater the chance they have to influence your thoughts and actions. You increase the possibility of becoming just like them. The Lord has a better path for you. He wants you to renew your mind. He wants your mind controlled by His thinking, by truth. Most importantly, He does not want you to renew you mind to just anything, it is to renew your mind to truth.

5. Loss of Hope: Depression is often born from an unhealthy focus on past events. It can be birthed from trying to control a past event, the unfairness of what happened, and the lost hope for justice. Hope, like joy, doesn’t grow from vengeance, bitterness or holding grudges. Hope takes root in the soil of forgiveness. Forgiveness encourages hope and a new future for your life. That's what forgiveness is about.

Forgiveness is the best way to deal with your memory of wrongful pain. It’s an opportunity to be free of the pain and probably help other people, even the person who hurt you. It’s your choice to trust God's way or yours. And by the way, the alternative to forgiving – bitterness and vengeance – only makes the pain last longer. It will affect you emotionally, mentally, and physically, and even generations to come. Please, don’t choose that.”

If you would like to give your life to Christ just confess this:
"Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world, in Your name I pray, amen!"

Congratulations!!!

God bless you.

Peace!

Ref: Mountain Top Daily Devotional; https://gr8relate.com

Religion is the problem of the world.

Imagine the police forgiving offenders, this world wont be safe for women, including you.

Make una forget all those forgiveness things.

The world will become dysfunctional when we forgive people.

This world you are enjoying today operates on the unforgiveness principle and thats the reason you are still alive and happy . The opposite will spawn disssater.

Stop preaching wrong stuffs to humans.