Follow Jesus and Forgive

"Have you ever experienced a moment where your anger got the best of you?" That's how I started last weeks sermon on The Principle of Love based on the 6th Commandment in Exodus 20:13. I posed the question that way, because in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus said it has more to deal with our anger. And just as our anger can lead to hate, forgiveness can lead to love. 

It's easy to love
when you are quick to forgive.

For many of us forgiveness does not come quickly nor easily. However, if we look at the life of Jesus and the lessons it teaches us, we can pick up a few tips to help us forgive more quickly.

• 1. Look back and understand that "hurt people hurt people". Oftentimes, when someone has wronged us, it's because they themselves are hurting. We can be more forgiving when we remember that we too, have been hurt in the past. And just as we have been forgiven, we must forgive.

  2. Let go of the anger and bitterness. Holding on to those emotions will only hurt us more. When we understand it's not God's will for us to live this way, it becomes easier to let go and understand that He has something better in store for us than wallowing around in the burden of these negative emotions.

  3. Look forward and see ourselves being more like Christ. When we forgive others, we are not only being obedient, we are being imitating God like His dear children. Look forward to God helping you see as He sees, forgive as He's forgiven, and love like He loves.

Is there anyone you need to forgive? If so, I pray that God gives you the strength needed to forgive them today.

Additional Resources:

Watch: Click here to check out an excerpt from this sermon.

Listen: To listen to the full sermon, titled "The Principle of Love", seach for Full Faith Church Sermons in your favorite podcast app, or you can click here.