God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. (9:7)
You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. (9:13)I've been reading this chapter over and over and over again. I know Paul is talking specifically about the Corinthians' financial offering for poor Christians, but God is using this message in a much different way today. He's speaking to my heart about about another kind of offering He wants me to make.
I've been struggling with extending complete forgiveness to someone. I've been very resistant to even the thought of it. This is another believer who has hurt and wronged me over a long period of time but hasn't acknowledged it. Obviously, there's been sin on my side of the relationship as well, and I've repented of it and asked this person for forgiveness. Yet nothing has come back my way. Nothing. And frankly, it bugs me - a lot.
God is revealing more of the root of this unforgiveness and showing me where I've bought into a lie of the enemy. I'm realizing that I don't want to forgive this person without some acknowledgement of the hurt that's been inflicted on me or what it cost me emotionally. In some way, freely forgiving without their acknowledgment of sin seems to condone the behavior and seems to communicate that the damage was minimal and it's okay.
What a twisted lie from Satan! I'm walking in unforgiveness while gratefully relying on Christ's forgiveness of my sin. How can I so easily forget that Christ died for me while I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8)?? What a hypocrite I am. Yet Jesus keeps gently reminding me that He sees it all. He doesn't condone the sin against me. He knows how much I've been hurt, and He knows what it's cost me.
But today He's asking me to trust Him and let it go, to delight in the giving of forgiveness, to give freely and generously. I'm not giving to get something, but I'm choosing to rely on the truth of God's Word and on what God can do when I obey.
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,
He throws caution to the winds,giving to the needy in reckless abandon.His right-living, right-giving ways
never run out, never wear out. (9:8-9)
Lord, I pray that Your Spirit will continue to work in my heart, empowering me to believe Your truth and reject Satan's lies. Give me the grace and the courage to extend complete forgiveness, holding nothing back. I want it to be a demonstration of my love for You and my gratitude for all You've done for me. I pray You'll give me the ability to give generously to this needy person - in reckless abandon. Jesus, help me.
No comments:
Post a Comment