I recently read a story that gave me goose bumps. It had to do with forgiveness.
I think at times we can read the Bible through-and-through, but we forget to apply
what we've read. In James 1:22 we are told, "But be doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving yourselves." Now, this can be harder than it sounds.
Recently, the Amish people were in the news because of the tragic events around
the school shootings there in Pennsylvania. We heard a lot about the shootings,
and the shooter. We even heard (and I included it in lessons myself) about the
protesters that were wanting to be present at the funerals. But one thing that got
a little lost in the shuffle was the forgiveness. While the shooter was still laying dead
on the floor, the elders of the Amish community taught of forgiveness. While discussing
taking up a collection for the families left behind, an elder requested that a fund be
set up for the children of the shooter as well.
Forgiveness is something that is easy to talk about, but oh so hard to do sometimes.
Jesus, in Mark 11:25-26, gave us a bit of a warning about this saying, "And whenever
you stand praying, if you have ANYTHING against ANYONE, forgive him, that your Father in
heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your
Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Now, that is a warning that we have to pay attention to. No matter how hard it is, we must
be a forgiving people!
Have a great day!
