God's Word is Personal and Good For Your Life

God's Word is so personalized when you digg into it, and sometimes the sermons hit you right between the eyes. This mornings sermon was very impressive on me.

The pastor titled it "The Gift We Can Give To God" it is in the Ephesians series.
(the notes and download will be available later, at http://faithnc.org/sermon_downloads , Check it out in about a week)

The scripture reference is Ephesians 4:25-32

And he discussed Lying Vs Truth,(Ephesians 4:25) Anger Vs Resting (trusting and knowing God) {OUCH!!!!) (Ephesians 4:26-27; 2 Timothy 2:24-26, Galatians 6:1; James 1:20; Romans 12:19-21, Proverbs 24:17. Stealing Vs Hard Work (Ephesians 4:28) and Hurtful speech Vs Forgiveness {Double OUCH!!!!!) (Ephesians 4:29-32)

The biggest part that really got me was about Forgiveness. He told the parable about the disciples asking God how many times they were to forgive someone who asked for forgiveness.

{The pastor possed the question, "How sincere is someone who repeatedly requests forgiveness", Not much; but that does not matter. because that is what Christ was trying to teach the disciples with His answer}

Christ told them, "to forgive 7 times 70".

Forgiveness does not depend on the person that needs the forgiveness, their sincerity, even them requesting the forgiveness is not important. Forgiveness is like a gift, that we give, because it was given to us. We forgive because Christ freely forgives us.

The alternative of not forgiving is very destructive, it involves keeping the anger, bitterness, stress, destroyed relationships, and possibility of sinning is high. If you are being Truthful and Christ is your all in all, and you are complete dependent on Him for your needs, wants, dreams, expectations then the persons short comings or flaws should not be more important than trusting and relying on God.

WOW!!!!! that kind of changes the thinking on things...

Forgiveness is all about God's Love. Tis' the season all about God's love, and the New Year is coming. What a perfect time to "give" the gift of forgiveness. And the "humanly cool" thing is the person that benefits the most from the giving of forgiveness is YOU!!!