12-18-2017

Good Morning All,

         Colossians 3:13; “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

    It is always somewhat humorous to read an article or a study that “supports” the truths of the Bible.  In a study in the “Journal of Behavioral Medicine” people who forgive others, and do so unconditionally, tend to live longer and healthier lives than people who do not.  They listed many different that forgiving others is healthy for you.

    When we forgive others, our stress level is lower.  We can sleep better.  We are not in the angry mode which produces a chemical imbalance in our bodies.  It helps your heart.  It strengthens your immune system.  It strengthens your healthy relationships. 

    Probably the greatest physical benefit is the reduction of stress.  Stress, when it occurs over a long term period can damage your mental health and can lead to ulcers and other physical problems.  One of the strong ones is the lack of good quality sleep.  Sleep deprivation is a huge damaging condition.  Stress leads to many immune and cardio problems.  Not forgiving leads to stress and stress is not healthy.

    God has shown us, given us and guaranteed us a better way.  He teaches us that forgiveness is the best way.  He shows us that to forgive is the healthier choice.  It is healthier in that forgiving others gives you peace.  In part because it puts you in charge of how you react to others.  When you forgive you no longer keep score in your head and heart.  You do not have to remember who you are upset with and why.  You are not calculating how to even the score.  You can let the pain of the sin leave you and you can be filled with God’s peace.

    It may be difficult at times, forgiving a spouse or other family member may require more time than the stranger at Walmart.  Yet God encourages to take the time and to make the effort to forgive as we are forgiven.  We may have to go to God in prayer often asking for the strength to forgive; but forgiveness is necessary.   Forgiveness frees us from the slavery of sin.  Slavery to both being the sinner and being the one who retains the sin and thus carries the pain.  Strive to forgive.  Make that your top goal in life; to forgive those sins which are committed against you.  By forgiving, you engender a more peaceful life, a life in which you are more content.  It will make your relationships stronger and help to build community with the people that you deal with on a daily basis.  Strive to forgive as God forgives you.  It will be difficult because God is perfect and we are not but we must daily strive to forgive.

Father of all forgiveness, empower me to forgive.  Strengthen me that I might rise above this world’s temptation to retain sins.  Give me the peace to forgive and the peace that I receive because I forgive.  Be with those who are especially burdened by the struggle to forgive. Give them the wisdom to forgive and to be relieved of the pain that results from holding onto sins.   Lead your Church to show the example of your forgiving grace.  In the precious name of Jesus, our Risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret