Hi friends! I'm going to start posting excerpts from my book, The Coram Deo Secret. Today's excerpt is about forgiveness.
If we at any time find ourselves wading in the dead swamps of unforgiveness—know that we have officially had warfare. Anytime we are tempted hold a grudge—know that things are not as they appear to be. Paul wrote, “Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief--we're not oblivious to his sly ways!” (2 Co. 2:10-11 MSG) Anytime we are tempted not to forgive, it’s because the thief strongly covets the keys to the front door of our heart. He hates us who are made in God’s image and relishes any chance to lock us away in prison. It makes him feel so powerful, like he has the upper hand on Christ who is in us. The devil knows God’s laws even better than we do, and one of the devil’s favorite laws is that he can torment believers who do not forgive. It’s true. (See Matthew 18:22-35)
Having no mercy is a crippling burden that leads to hostility (anger directed toward others), guilt (anger directed toward ourselves), and anxiety (fear without an appropriate object). (Wimber & K. Springer 1987) One of the easiest things for the torturer to do, that requires the least amount of effort on his part, is to create misunderstanding and strife which lead to unforgiveness. If we were to recognize strife as our enemy and post on our doors “0 tolerance policy notice,” it would shut the gates of hell that have legally stirred up so much disorder in our lives: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (Jas. 3:16 KJV)
If we at any time find ourselves wading in the dead swamps of unforgiveness—know that we have officially had warfare. Anytime we are tempted hold a grudge—know that things are not as they appear to be. Paul wrote, “Don't think I'm carrying around a list of personal grudges. The fact is that I'm joining in with your forgiveness, as Christ is with us, guiding us. After all, we don't want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief--we're not oblivious to his sly ways!” (2 Co. 2:10-11 MSG) Anytime we are tempted not to forgive, it’s because the thief strongly covets the keys to the front door of our heart. He hates us who are made in God’s image and relishes any chance to lock us away in prison. It makes him feel so powerful, like he has the upper hand on Christ who is in us. The devil knows God’s laws even better than we do, and one of the devil’s favorite laws is that he can torment believers who do not forgive. It’s true. (See Matthew 18:22-35)
Having no mercy is a crippling burden that leads to hostility (anger directed toward others), guilt (anger directed toward ourselves), and anxiety (fear without an appropriate object). (Wimber & K. Springer 1987) One of the easiest things for the torturer to do, that requires the least amount of effort on his part, is to create misunderstanding and strife which lead to unforgiveness. If we were to recognize strife as our enemy and post on our doors “0 tolerance policy notice,” it would shut the gates of hell that have legally stirred up so much disorder in our lives: “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.” (Jas. 3:16 KJV)
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