Forgiving ... have you done it?
Grace, mercy, and all kinds of kindness were shown to me when I did not deserve it. It was interesting, mercy shamed me and caused me to change instead of judgement. However, it was the excommunication and consequences that caused me to grieve my sin the most. When I missed the friendships and relationships, it caused me to ponder what I had done wrong. I was isolated, I had ostracized myself by sinning and many were disappointed in me. I was ashamed and embarrassed of my misbehavior.
When the sinner has confessed, repented and asked for forgiveness, what should we do?
"Someone there among you has caused sadness, not to me, but to all of you. I mean he caused sadness to all in some way. (I do not want to make it sound worse than it really is.) The punishment that most of you gave him is enough for him. But now you should forgive him and comfort him to keep him from having too much sadness and giving up completely.". (2 Corinthians 2:5-7 NCV)
LORD - I am so thankful others have forgiven me. I am thankful for restored relationships. I still wear shame a little and wished I had never hurt so many people in my past, making me all the more thankful for their forgiveness. To this day, I still run into people that were disappointed in me and I've not had a chance to tell them that you have made me a new man. Sin is not worth it ... It's short lived and the consequences of it are not ... Thank you for Christ who paid for all my sins ... IJNIP
Created 8 months ago
