John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:1-5 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
John 13:12-15 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
You may want justice and vengeance, but those are God’s job. Our job to take care of our hearts.
Why is it so easy for us to receive a clean slate while we make a list of all the wrong doing of others?
1- Look at your heart Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, o God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Hebrews 12:15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.
2-Find the root
3 Choose to forgive Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
When we remember all Jesus forgave us of we cannot go on in bitterness and not forgive. We must choose to be like Him and love fully!
4- Continue to walk out forgiveness Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
When walking out forgiveness gets hard: -Ask God to see the person who hurt you as He does. -Remember Jesus died for them too.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Further reading on forgiving others: -Matthew 6:14 -Mark 11:25 -Matthew 18:21-22 -Colossians 3:12-13
