Tolerance And Forgiveness - Bliss & Fire Network Weekly Digest - August 16, 2011

Tolerance And Forgiveness

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” - Proverbs 4:23
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” - Colossians 3:13

EXPLORATION

The views of others are bound to differ from ours. Beloved, offenses are bound to come. This is because people are different in the levels of their knowledge either in spiritual or secular matters, likewise in a professional discipline, cultural or racial background—and even in spiritual gifts.

INSPIRATION

Our minds should always be made ready to tolerate and forgive others when they express views different from ours and perhaps say things that hurt and offend us — and knowing one thing that they will come to appreciate our points of view with time. There are two factors that could make a person not to Forgive or Tolerate others:

1. Pride
2. Hatred

Pride will make a person want his own point of view to be upheld all the time. Likewise, pride could easily birth jealousy. That is having jealousy over the superior views of others. Hence, in a case like this, the person finds it difficult to tolerate or forgive others when he is offended. A proud person will always think more of promoting and protecting his/her own personality. Whenever he feels his personality is insulted or injured, he fights back by revenging. The Bible says: “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.” - Leviticus 19:18

Peter once felt so offended by his brethren that he said to Jesus “How often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?” Jesus said unto him till seventy times. (Matthew 18:21-22) Here is how the Bible put it in the book of St. Luke: “And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” - Luke 17:4 (Leviticus 19:18)

If you have the problem of Pride or Envy, Jealousy or Hatred commits yourself to the Lord in prayer for deliverance and inner cleansing. And let the Lord heals your heart. When we are trying to avenge ourselves, we can get into more errors and thereby destroy our Christian testimony. We have to let go and let God take care of it all.  The Bible says: “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.” - Proverbs 20:22 (Proverbs 24:29)

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” - Hebrews 12:1-2

Secondly, The Bible reveals that our prayers will not be answered by God when we refuse to forgive others. (Matthew 6:15) David in his many years of experience as the Lord's anointed said: “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me”- Psalm 66:18.

This week: We have to walk our Christian life as expected by God. Putting to practice the counsel of Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Philippians brethren, as to what should constantly form their thought. He said: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” -Philippians 4:8

Remember the Bible says: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” - Philippians 2:5 Matthew 5:17-1

You are blessed, we love you!

Pastor Wales Goriola

Bliss & Fire Network Team

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