Do The Right Thing ... Anyway

Love And Forgive Anyway

The Bible is clear about love and forgiveness. It teaches us "Beloved let us love one another. For love comes from God, and everyone who loves knows God. He who does not practice love does not know God at all.  For God IS love."  (1 John 4:7 & 8) Regarding forgiveness, the Lord teaches we are to forgive seventy times seven, if someone sins against us and repents. (Matthew 18:21-23.) Indeed, we are to forgive each of those times. In another place we see where one servant was forgiven an enormous debt, but he refused to forgive a very small debt, and he suffered dearly for it, when he had to meet the "Ultimate Judge." (Matthew 18:23-35.)  Many pray weekly, "forgive us our sins as we forgive others their sins against us."  To be sure the word "sins" is the same as the word "trespasses" or "debts" used in older language. Either way, this prayer request is indeed in keeping with seeking God's forgiveness, while we relate to others. We are empowered to love and forgive, by the power of God's own Holy Spirit, and because of the work of the Christ, The Cross and God's Eternal Covenant. And if I have learned anything, loving others and forgiving others, whether they return the favor, benefits me more than they.  Thank God!

What If Others Won't Forgive You or Me?

This is a very good question: Even if we try to reconcile and seek to give and receive love and forgiveness, what if the other party absolutely refuses to participate? First, we cannot control what other people do. Second, we go to God to get the stuff to be enough ... to become lovers and forgivers. God will answer our prayers no matter what anyone else does.  Third, I admit, we may have to do this every single day, but if that is what it takes to please God and have His power to be free, then let us be free. Choose to love and forgive anyway. 

A Teaching of Mother Teresa

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you God.

It was never between you and them anyway.

Think About Mother Teresa's Guidance, and I'm thinking this will be wise-Anyway.

SoJourner

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