Page 10 - Have Faith Oct_Neat

Day 9 Forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you...

Reconcilliation... Matthew 5: 23-26, 38-48
There is no doubt in my mind that hatred is tell you know, at times like this Satan is smil-
the poison of mankind. We see hatred in the ing from ear to ear and loving every second.
news everyday with acts of violence, murder, The bible is full to the brim of instances of for-
terrorism, the list goes on. It exists in our giveness and reconciliation. Consider the
newspapers, social media, on the TV destroy- story of Joseph in Genesis. After his brothers
ing everything good. But we don't have to go hated him, threw him in a pit to die, then sold
nearly as far as that to see hatred. It exists in him as a slave in which he was wrongly im-
our towns and cities, in our streets and even prisoned, even after he rose in power and had
in our very own homes. The enemy uses all the power to do as he wished to them, he for-
sorts of weapons to wreak havoc on our har- gave them, embraced them and reunited with
mony. Pride and temper are two of his them once more. That is what forgiveness is
favourites and seem to be ever present in dis- all about. So let's think for a moment about
putes in our homes and between our friends those we have parted company from. At one
which, very sadly, can seriously damage or point you were close to them. There were
even end relationships. It is so sad to see good reasons why you were once so close,
good friends break apart when situations can try to remember them without thinking of the
so often be sorted out. Satan absolutely loves reason why you parted. Why not ask God to
this. When we fall out with someone it is very help you to revisit those times and show you
easy to develop a dislike for them especially what it was like. But do remember the enemy
if they have wronged us, abused our trust or will be close by to push those hateful thoughts
just simply upset us in some way. That old back into your mind. Don't give him the satis-
saying comes to mind "You only hurt the ones faction. As a final point, Jesus died on the
you love". Mostly its because the ones that cross to bear our sins. He did this so ALL of
hurt us are the one we least expect it from. us could be saved from our sins because at
This makes it so much harder for us to for- some point ALL of us are wrong. Does that
give. So how do we free ourselves from this? mean that at some point we may have sinned
Do we go and tell others how bad your friend as badly as our friend, partner, family mem-
has treated you? Do you seek revenge? Or ber. I do believe so or Jesus died on that
do you simply just avoid them all together? I cross for absolutely nothing.

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