Page 113 - Ephesians

up and say they’re sorry for something, will you say, “It’s alright.
It’s already been forgiven. I forgave you a long time ago.”

Does God have a struggle forgiving your sins? If you ever have a
struggle forgiving someone else, you are not living up to your
responsibility. That’s your walk; “Walk worthy of the vocation
of which you are called.” No matter how deep the hurt. No
matter what they’ve said, or what they’ve done. How they’ve lied,
or maligned your name. How they’ve gossiped, or taken
advantage of you. How they’ve stolen from you, or how
unthankful they’ve been. If you don’t forgive them the same way
that God forgave you, without a struggle, you are not living up to
your responsibilities. You are not walking worthy of the vocation
wherewith you were called.

That’s what I mean when I say it’s scary. Because, the standards
are so high. God is the goal. When He forgives, He never brings
it up again. Do you know how we say, “Forgive and forget”?
Well, God doesn’t forget, because He can’t, that would be a
weakness. He wills not to remember. “Your sins and iniquities
will I remember no more.” That’s not the same as forgetting.
That’s choosing never to bring it up again. Is that how you
forgive? If not, you are not living up to your responsibilities.
Chapter 5:25,

“Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the Church
and gave Himself up for her.”

What a standard! “Just as Christ loved the church.” Dr. Ironside,
the late pastor of the famed Moody Church in Chicago, told about
a man who came to his office very burdened. He said, “Dr.
Ironside, I love my wife too much! I’m afraid I’m putting my wife
before the Lord.” Dr. Ironside answered, “You can love her in a
wrong way. But you can never love her too much.” His advice
was to go back and love her some more. He based it on that
verse. Because until you get beyond Eph. 5:25, you haven’t loved
her enough. Until you have met that standard, you haven’t lived
up to your responsibility. That’s scary!