The Poison of Unforgiveness

HAZMAT_Class_6-1_Poison

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The Poison of Unforgiveness

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:35 – AKJV)

The story of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18 is a stunning example of the consequences of an unforgiving disposition.

Briefly it is the story of a man who owed an impossible amount of money he had no hope of paying. In spite of this he received mercy; his debt was entirely wiped out because of the compassion of his master.

But this “wicked servant,” as his Master calls him later, goes out and demands payment of a small debt owed him by one of his fellow servants. He has deaf ears to the man’s pleas for time to pay. He goes so far as to have the man arrested for not paying his debt immediately.

So his Master pays him in kind, withdraws the forgiveness of his debt, and delivers him to the torturers till his debt is paid.

Now this is the point Jesus was trying to make when He said: So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:35 – AKJV) If you do not forgive you are not forgiven. And it has to be from the heart that you forgive or it doesn’t count.

I saw this on a poster: “Unforgiveness is like taking poison and hoping the other guy dies.”

Holding on to the hurts others have done to us may be the stupidest thing you and I have ever done. Don’t do it.

A Bottle of Poison

(© Thursday 18th December 2014 – by Christopher Shennan)

So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. (Matthew 18:35 – AKJV)

I took a bottle of poison:

The label, it said: “Don’t forgive!”

But I knew if I ever drink it,

I would give up my right to live.

So I took, another bottle,

It said, “Forgive –You Will be Blessed!”

I drank it all and discovered

The Peace of my Lord and soul’s rest.

I’ve cast the first bottle away;

There’s no place in this heart of mine

For poisonous Unforgiveness.

To keep it would be a vile crime.

So friend, if you are still hurting,

And find that the pain is too deep,

Drink to the dregs “True Forgiveness”

And you’ll taste God’s Heavenly peace.

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