Title: Keeping A Grudge?
Memorize: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: Matthew 18:21-35 (Nkjv)
[21] Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”
[22] Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
[23] Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
[24] And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
[25] But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
[26] The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
[27] Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
[28] “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’
[29] So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
[30] And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
[31] So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
[32] Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
[33] Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
[34] And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
[35] “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
Message:
Holding on to a grudge is like carrying a heavy backpack everywhere one goes.
The longer it is held on to, the heavier it feels. If a fellow is betrayed by a friend, hurt by a sibling or parent, or insulted in public, it is normal for the person to feel hurt.
However, when he or she refuses to forgive the offender, the grudge will weigh him or her down.
Many people ask me how I manage to handle so many responsibilities, even at my old age, and I always tell them it is the grace of God.
Also, I ‘travel light’; I don’t carry weights in my heart.
When people offend me, I ask God for the grace to forgive them quickly so they don’t slow me down with the things I have to do.
Keeping a grudge can be compared to two people who are tied together by a rope.
Whenever one of them wants to move forward, the other holds on to the rope tightly.
The longer they remain in that position, the more time passes by, and they will never achieve their goal.
My dear child, when you feel hurt, you may not feel like forgiving the fellow who hurt you right away, but if you surrender your hurt to God, He will give you peace.
Rather than holding on to a grudge, pray for the person who hurt you, and ask God to help you release the hurt.
I pray that God will grant you a forgiving heart, in Jesus’ name.
Action Point:
For the next ten minutes, pray sincerely for anyone who has hurt you in the past.
HYMN: 8 THROUGH THE LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR
1 Through the love of God our Saviour,
all will be well.
Free and changeless is his favour,
all, all is well.
Precious is the blood that healed us,
perfect is the grace that sealed us,
strong the hand stretched forth to shield us,
all must be well.
2 Though we pass through tribulation,
all will be well.
Ours is such a full salvation,
all, all is well.
Happy, still in God confiding,
fruitful, if in Christ abiding,
holy, through the Spirit’s guiding,
all must be well.
3 We expect a bright tomorrow,
all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow,
‘All, all is well.’
On our Father’s love relying,
Jesus every need supplying,
in our living, in our dying,
all must be well.
Bible In One Year: Luke 3, Joshua 9-10
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye