Forgiveness is an act of God's mercy on our lives; but more than this, we are called to forgive one another. "Yeah right", you might say, "you don't know how they have hurt me." True, but unforgiveness doesn't punish them, it punishes YOU!

The MSG translation says it like this: "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." (Mat 6:14-15, MSG)

We are approaching this season of celebrating Christmas and remembering the reason Jesus came to this earth, to reconcile us to himself and to one another in God's love. It is in this time and season that we mustn't let unforgiveness eat away at our joy and happiness.

Sometimes we think that holding onto our unforgiveness is a form of "revenge" toward others; some of us might hold grudges, or carry resentment in our hearts because we have been deeply hurt. Remember that unforgiveness hurts us, not the person we have not forgiven!

Let go of your unforgiveness today; it will set you free. Forgiveness does not mean you have to socialise or "be near" to the person/s again. It just means you are set free of bitterness and the root of it, which is hurt in your own life, so that you can get on with healing in your own life. In other words, you let it go and let God deal with them!
But as you release unforgiveness, you make room for God's love to come in and take its place in your life. Remember, mercy triumphs over judgement (James 2:13).

Each of us will have to be accountable to God someday and it will be God alone who judges us. Col 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Forgiveness is an ongoing thing in our lives. When Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness, this is how the conversation went in the book of Matthew 18:21-22: "At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"- Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven." (MSG)

Let's do it, friends, let's forgive those that have hurt us, so that we release ourselves from the well of bitterness and let forgiveness & love be your goal this Christmas season.

Have a great Christmas!

Rev. Deborah Bell

Forgiveness is an act of God's mercy on our lives; but more than this, we are called to forgive one another. "Yeah right", you might say, "you don't know how they have hurt me." True, but unforgiveness doesn't punish them, it punishes YOU!

The MSG translation says it like this: "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part." (Mat 6:14-15, MSG)

We are approaching this season of celebrating Christmas and remembering the reason Jesus came to this earth, to reconcile us to himself and to one another in God's love. It is in this time and season that we mustn't let unforgiveness eat away at our joy and happiness.

Sometimes we think that holding onto our unforgiveness is a form of "revenge" toward others; some of us might hold grudges, or carry resentment in our hearts because we have been deeply hurt. Remember that unforgiveness hurts us, not the person we have not forgiven!

Let go of your unforgiveness today; it will set you free. Forgiveness does not mean you have to socialise or "be near" to the person/s again. It just means you are set free of bitterness and the root of it, which is hurt in your own life, so that you can get on with healing in your own life. In other words, you let it go and let God deal with them!
But as you release unforgiveness, you make room for God's love to come in and take its place in your life. Remember, mercy triumphs over judgement (James 2:13).

Each of us will have to be accountable to God someday and it will be God alone who judges us. Col 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Forgiveness is an ongoing thing in our lives. When Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness, this is how the conversation went in the book of Matthew 18:21-22: "At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"- Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven." (MSG)

Let's do it, friends, let's forgive those that have hurt us, so that we release ourselves from the well of bitterness and let forgiveness & love be your goal this Christmas season.

Have a great Christmas!

Rev. Deborah Bell