Love is . . . Forgiveness

So often when the subject of forgiveness comes up, we go by our feelings.  We ponder the wrong that was done to us, see how high it goes on our hurt-o-meter, and then we figure out how long it will actually take us to forgive.  We do all sorts of things when we are in this situation.  We act out the silent treatment, we get back at the person, we yell or cry or, if it really hurt, we kick that person out of our lives forever.  But let me ask you something.  Is this love?  (If you are a Christian reading this, I really want you to think about this.)  Is walking in unforgiveness walking in love? 

As followers of Christ, love is who we are.  God is love.  He forgives us of the most horrendous things and accepts us back with open arms.  Let me give an example of love that forgives.

Once there was a man who had two sons.  One day the younger son comes to the father and demands his inheritance.  The father agrees and distributes what he has to the two boys.  Well, the younger son takes off.  He leaves his father’s homestead and he journeys to another country.  He wastes his whole inheritance in frivolous living and indecency. When he has spoiled it all, he cuts covenant with an outsider and labors feeding swine and living in their pen. 

The young man is laying in that muck and filth when he remembers his father and the state of which the home he had left was in. Wealthy, healthy, without want.  So he journeys back.

What would you do?  If you gave someone a large sum of money only for them to waste it and then come running back to you when they were in want, what would you do? 

The father saw his son afar off and he told his servants to make a feast.  He ran to the boy and fell on his neck, so joyful that his son was found again.  He couldn’t care less about the wasted inheritance.  He forgave his son his squandering and welcomed him home. 

In this life, we will get hurt at times.  But that hurt will never go beyond healing.  We need to realize that.  It might feel like something you can’t bear.  But if you allow love to rise above the hurt, healing will come upon its wings.  Unforgiveness is a poison.  It eats you up from the inside out.  But love is the soil from which blessings grow.  Forgiveness is a powerful weapon that we have.  When hurt stands in our way, threatening to overtake us and take down all the joy that we have worked for, we can stand up and say, I choose to forgive and I walk in love.  Hurt may still rise up at times, but when love abides in our hearts, everything else must bow.  Love is master over hurt.  Choose to forgive.    

It's a Relationship

When I got a hold of this, it changed my life forever.  And it changed me for the good.

God loves YOU!

Can you recall when someone spoke to you about God for the first time?  Someone trying to convert you?  So often I hear stories of people telling others who don’t believe they’re no good sinners, especially if the person being spoken to doesn’t want to listen to what the ‘Christian fanatic’ has to say.  I have nothing against these Christians; I’m sure they love God with all of their heart, but let’s face it.  Would you just want to listen to someone tell you how bad you are if you don’t pick up a religion?  Honestly, I would not.  That is why I’m here with a different message.  Not a different Gospel, I will not compromise on the Word of God, but with a message that is long overdue to some.  I’m here to tell you that God loves you, whether you love Him back or not.  Whether you don’t believe in Him or you do.  I’m here to tell you that there is so much more to God than religion.  It’s a relationship. 

The Bible says in John chapter 3 verse 16- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

God loved the WORLD.  God loved the unrighteous world so much, He gave His Son Jesus so the world could be saved and have right standing with Him.  Do you want to know something?  Jesus has dealt with the sin problem.  He has made it so that every man, woman, and child on this earth can be righteous, can have right standing with God and be able to stand boldly in His presence without any sense of  inadequacy.  Jesus has made it so you can reign as kings in life on this earth (Romans 5:17).  Jesus has made it so you can be healed and prosperous in every area of your life, including finances.  He has made it so you can be happy and enjoy life on this earth.  God is not a mean god.  He is good and He wants you to be blessed! He loves you more than you can ever know.  If you’re a parent, you know that you want the best for your children.  You want to protect them, and take care of them, and bless them.  Well, that’s exactly how God feels.  Jesus even says it Himself in the Bible (Matthew 7:11- If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask him?)  How much more, Jesus said! God wants to do great things for you and through you.  The only thing that’s holding Him back is you.  In order for you to take part in the riches of His glory and in the birthright a child of God has inherited, you have to become a child.  How do you do that? 

Romans 10:9- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 

You just have to believe in your heart that Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross for you and was risen again and confess that with your mouth.  When you ask Jesus into your heart, you automatically become a child of God and the angels of heaven are rejoicing. 

Now a quick message for those who already have a relationship with God, but feel unworthy or like you really messed up.  It doesn't matter where you come from, or what you did in your past, before you were saved or after, He loved you from the beginning of time.

Jeremiah 1:5- Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. . .

Think about it. When God created this world, He spoke everything into existence. But when it came time to create man, His family, Adam, His son, God took up dust and formed him, God breathed life into him. He didn't just say, Let there be man. He said Let us make man in our image, and then He formed us.  He formed man and breathed into that man His very own life and nature.  Wouldn't you say that that's love?
And maybe you've made mistakes in life. We all do. But that's the beauty of God's love. He forgives.

Psalm 103:8, 10- The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

Romans 5:8- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 103:12- As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Don't let Satan con you into thinking that what you did is much too bad for God ever to forgive or love you. Because it isn't. God never stopped loving you, no matter what it was. The sin may have caused you to be separated from God and His Blessing, but He never said 'Well, now, that I can never forgive. She is not worthy of my love.' God would never say that! He IS love, and when you are in Jesus, you are the righteousness of God! No, God said, 'she may have made a mistake, but she is still my child, and I love her as much as the day I formed her in her mother's womb.' So when you make a mistake, God still loves you, and when you repent (turn away from that sin) and ask Him for forgiveness and RECEIVE that forgiveness, you are not missing anything. You're still in fellowship with him, you're still in the secret place, and never once had His love for you been diminished.

1 John 1:9-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Listen, God loves you like He loves Jesus. Jesus said so Himself.

John 17:23- I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Say it to yourself in the mirror. God loves me! Meditate on that one thing and let it fill you until you overflow. I can guarantee you that whatever trial comes against you, when you really know that God loves you, nothing is going to seem too big. His love will complete you and take you through.