LEARNING DAILY

 

Luke 6:16-17. “But I say to you who hear; Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Jesus

 

Romans 14:13, Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

 

Dad used to say, “Don’t do as I do; do as I say.” I would like to use this to preface the comments I make. But I can’t. I am really trying to live the verses above. Some days are easier than others in doing so. So, any comments I make should be regarded as comments I am making to myself and to any reader who needs to read them. My thought: If the shoe fits, wear it! That is written with a smile, by the way.

 

Who would say with me, “Jesus are you really serious?” This teaching is one I might like to ask Him if I could ignore. There are some individuals who have just not liked the way I have coached; that would be in every school I coached at, as I think about it. In one particular school, many words were shared with me because I would not do things the way one parent wanted me to. That has been many years ago now and I can honestly say I have forgiven him; I am not sure about him forgiving me.

 

The truth is there are people in all of our lives who we have no trouble at all giving our love to and easily forgive when the need arises. There may be those times we have trouble forgiving those who love us all the time. If that is true and we fail to forgive them and stop praying for them, what happens when that happens with those who do not love us all the time.

 

I added the verse with Romans today to share what happens when we do not handle those times others do things to us that causes us to hold a grudge or to pass judgment upon them.  When we do either, the situation only grows worse and the ability to walk the narrow way Christ demands becomes more difficult. In Matthew 6:15, Jesus told us as Christians we must be ready and willing to forgive those things people say and do to us. If we do not, several things occur. One God will not forgive the things we do and say and He will not answer our prayers. It could also cause another to fall as a result of judgment of trivial matters in their life. Instead, you and I are to encourage, especially our brothers and sisters in the Lord to live a Christlike life and to live righteously when it concerns matters of faith.

 

Okay, I have learned the power of forgiveness; too many times the learning has come through tough times. I have learned that forgiveness is God’s way to live peacefully with others. I try not to be taken advantage of in doing so; I trust God will give me the wisdom and discernment so this does not happen. I have been able to see the positive for my confrontations when coaching and move on knowing that God was involved with each situation. That has involved forgiveness and praying for those who have caused hurt. I have even learned to do this with other situations! God is good all the time!