FORGIVING YOUR PAST
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)
Daily Devotional:
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you (Ephesians 4:32)
It was for freedom that Christ set us free (Galatians 5:1)
How does God intend for you to resolve hurtful, controlling past experiences? In two ways, which we shall consider today and tomorrow.
Whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? (Matthew 16:25,26)
Three guidelines from these verses summarize the view from the cross, which we must adopt to counteract the self-centred worldview promoted by the god of this world.
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxious thoughts and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23,24)
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him follow Me (Matthew 16:24)
Seeking to overcome self by self-effort is a hopeless struggle. Self will never cast out self, because an independent self-motivated by the flesh still wants to be God. We must follow Christ by being led by the Holy Spirit down the path of death to self-rule. As Paul wrote: "we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:11).
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart (Psalm 86:11 NIV)
The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses (Psalm 25:17)
Unlike our day-to-day emotions, which are the product of our day-to-day thought life, emotional baggage from the past is always there. Years of exposure and experience in life have etched grooves in our memory banks that are triggered by current events.
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross (Matthew 16:24)
If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself (Matthew 16:24)
A primary reason why we struggle to fulfil Christ's Great Commission is because we are guilty of a great omission. We fail to deny ourselves.
Denying yourself is not the same as self-denial. Students, athletes and cult members practice self-denial, restricting themselves from substances and activities that keep them from reaching their goals. But the ultimate purpose of self-denial is self-glorification. The ultimate purpose of denying self is to glorify God.
Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:18,19)