Forgiveness

1 Peter 3: 8 – 9

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Live in harmony with one another?

Are you at all like me? Just once I’d like to react in the flesh, and tell my brother a thing or two!

Do you know who Peter was talking to? People in the church.

I don’t often see the church work that way.

We’re not called to operate in the flesh—we’re actually called to be sympathetic and compassionate and humble.

We’re not called to tell our brother a thing or two—we’re called to be a blessing.

We’re supposed to be about being a blessing, so that we can inherit a blessing.

Someone once told me that they were considering forgiving me—for something I’m still not sure I did wrong.

That doesn’t sound like compassion or humility to me.

Can you imagine being on a forgiveness waiting list? Sure glad God doesn’t operate that way—I might be waiting for a very long time!!!

“Now serving….. number 44,709!!”

No, I’m not called to repay evil for evil—or insult with insult.

I have been called by God, to extend grace—and there’s obviously a blessing waiting for me if I operate that way.

There’s a blessing waiting for us friends, when we extend the blessing of forgiveness.

Who will you bless today