Forgive

Scripture- Forgive and comfort those who have hurt you. Otherwise, they may be overcome by discouragement. So I urge you now to reaffirm your love for them! I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions. When you forgive them, I forgive them, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

Every Christian is engaged in a battle with Satan. In his instruction on dealing with festering anger, Paul warns us: "do not give the devil a foothold"-don't make it any easier on him!!

This statement teaches us that we must give no ground. The smallest ground, the tiniest foothold, is opportunity for him to steal your joy and destroy us. Unresolved anger that continues to poison your minds and harden into bitterness gives the devil an opening.

We will struggle enough with the devil without willingly placing ourselves within his grasp. "Do not give a foothold" emphasizes that this is something within our power to control. The devil can only come as close as we allow him!! "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7)

Though powerful and cunning, the devil can never control our will or force disobedience. Yet active resistance is essential! Satan is not one to lay down his arms and take mercy on us out of pity or generosity. He only flees from those who have the courage and faith to resist him and turn to God's promise and power!!

Created 5 months ago