Daily Devotional For Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Well, the New Year is off and running. If you set some New Year's goals, I pray you are achieving them. A lot relationsips fall apart right after Christmas as tne New Year begins. Why? Many people do not want to be accused of ruining someone's holidays. For example, more divorces are filed in January than any other month.  Many couples see the New Year as a personal new beginning for thier marital states. Some couples stay together for the children for the holidays. When we have been hurt, reconcilation is not always the first thing on our minds.

The Bible says this sin Ephesians 4:32, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (ESV). We do not forgive the other person because we think they might deserve it. They don't and neither do you. We are all sinners. We forgive because we are commanded to do it. We forgive because it makes us more like Jesus. We forgive others because in the future we are going to need more forgiveness from God. Jesus said this in Matthew 6:14, "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (ESV). 

You're going to sin in the future. That is a given. Even Jesus said from the cross this in Luke 23:34a, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (ESV). No one, and I mean,, no one has ever been wronged as much as Jesus and from the cross, He forgave us. When someone offends you, hurts you, sincerely repeat what Jesus said in Luke 23:34a. Even if they knew what they were doing, forgive them. Unresolved forgiveness has a way of boomeraning in us. Look at this from Melissa Dahl, "Holding a Grudge May Literally Weigh You Down," Science of Us, (1-9-15):

According to researchers at Erasmus University carrying a grudge can weigh you down—literally. The researchers asked study participants to write about a time when they'd experienced a conflict. Some were instructed to reflect on a time when they didn't forgive the offender, others were told to think about the time they did forgive the person, and a third group wrote about a comparatively dull social interaction. They were then given a small physical challenge: jumping five times, as high as they could, without bending their knees.

They then asked their human guinea pigs to jump as high as they could, five times, without bending their knees. Those who had been thinking about a time when they'd forgiven jumped highest, about 11.8 inches on average; those who had written about their grudges, on the other hand, jumped 8.5 inches. There were no significant difference in the jumps of those in the non-forgiveness and neutral conditions. In another, similar experiment, people who'd been set up to think about a time they held a grudge estimated that a hill was steeper than people who were thinking about a time they forgave someone.

The results suggest that the "weight" of carrying a grudge may be more than just a metaphor. The lead researcher for the study wrote, "A state of unforgiveness is like carrying a heavy burden—a burden that victims bring with them when they navigate the physical world. Forgiveness can 'lighten' this burden."

Research shows that holding a grudge can lead to cancers, backaches, digestive issues such as nausea, ulcers and etc. You will longer and happier forgiving others.  One of the best New Year's Resolutions you can make, is to make a list of people who have offended you, hurt you, criticzed  you and huiliated you  . . . and forgive them. They may not even be aware they have done this. For most of us, most hurt is unintentional, not intentional. You are not forgiving them to let them off the hook. You are forgiving them to let you off the hook.

Years ago, I heard this: "Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies." Jesus said in Luke 6:37, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven" (ESV). This issue of forgiving others was an issue even with Jesus' own disciples, We read this in Matthew 18:20-21, "Then Peter came up and said to Him, `Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?'  (22) Jesus said to him, “` do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times''" (ESV). Meaning there is never a limit on forgiveness. Peter thought he was being gracious because the religious leaders of his day taught you only had to forgive someone up to seven times.

Since you have entered into the New Year, if you are holding a grudge -- LET IT GO. If you do not, that grudge will be like a boa constrictor. It will choke the life out of you spiritually, emotionally, pschologically and even possibly physically. I love what the late Dr. Martin Luther King said about forgiveness: "We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love." This is coming from a man who was mistreated because of his race -- the color of his skin. This New Year 2024, give yourself a break on this because if you do not, it will break you. Tomorrow I will give you more on this to think about in your time alone with God. Happy New Year and I love you.

Scripture to Meditate On: Proverbs 17:9, "Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends" (NLT).

Prayer to Pray: "Dear Jesus, I forgive (say their name) not becuase they deserve but because I want to be like You. I will seek reconcilation with them as proof of my forgivness. I ask that You are already preparing their heart. I think You for convicting me to do this for Your glory. In Jesus's name, Amen!"