IT HAS TO STOP

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14

King James Version

The newspapers, the television and the radio are filled with reports of violence, murders, rapes, child abuse and all other things that hurt Jesus.  We pray and ask God to heal our land but our Scripture verse tells us that it is us, the people who call themselves Christians who need to turn from their wicked ways. 

We want to blame the politicians and everyone else for all the violence in our country but God tells us that it is because of the things Christians say and do.  None of us want to point the finger of guilt at ourselves.  It is a lot easier to point the finger of guilt at someone else. 

Christians need to stop condemning, criticizing and blaming others for the violence in our country and change their behavior and the cruel sarcastic words that they say to others.  All of us are guilty of hurting people at times by the sarcastic words we say and the things that we do.

I read in the news that a man is going to be put to death for killing a college student.  We might think that he deserves to die but guess what, every one of us and that includes me deserve to die because of our sins.  We read in the Bible “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23).  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

If it wasn’t for the unconditional love that Jesus gave us when He died on the cross for our sins all of us would be on our way to hell for eternity.  May God help us to stop criticizing and blaming everyone else and take the responsibility for our own cruel words and actions.  I believe one of the things that hurts Jesus the most is when we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us.  If Jesus can forgive us for our sins, how dare you and I harbor unforgiveness in our heart?

Jesus set the example that we should follow in forgiving those who hurt us.  We read in the Bible.  “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).  If Jesus could forgive us while still hanging on the cross with the blood flowing down His body and suffering pain and anguish that you and I will never know, we need to forgive those who hurt us.  None of us are perfect, and that includes me.  All of us hurt others at times by our words and by our actions.

A pastor used this illustration in a sermon about forgiveness.  “There was a man who was very angry and bitter about something and he refused to forgive the person who had hurt him and the person who hurt him died without being forgiven.”  How we must hurt Jesus and break His heart when we harbor unforgiveness and bitterness in our heart and refuse to forgive those who hurt us.  Thank God that Jesus loves us enough to forgive us when we hurt Him.

Heavenly Father, I pray You will make all of us understand how much we hurt Jesus and how much we hurt You when we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us.  I pray for every pastor who is preaching the good news of our risen Saviour.  Please be with my Pastor, encourage Him and take the pain away that he is having.  Thank You.  In Jesus’ Name, I pray.  Amen.

Joanne Lowe

August 22, 2019