How many times in your life were you trying to do the right thing and walked into someones attitude that drained your joy? Have you ever got the worst end of someones problems just by trying to listen or understand? Has people that you least expected blindsided you with something you did not see coming? What about being blamed for something terrible that was simply a rumor and did not happen? Perhaps you have been judged based on the actions of others in your life even though their actions were not in your control. In many different ways through different people and venues has this act of anger has provoked people more times than we could comprehend! We all have been tested by enemies, ‘frenemies’, strangers, family, co-workers and even fellow Christians.I would say the attack that leaves me the most speechless is the kind that comes from people that are in upper positions in ministry. It is just one of those things that when it happens makes you see the kind of behavior that clouds peoples vision from seeing Christ in the church. I cannot say every moment in life will be wonderful during these stressful times but God and His infinite love will teach us all how to come through. We must learn to always be prepared for the confrontations in life that we can expect to happen, especially catching someone during their bad days.
Reading Matthew 5:30: “And if your right hand offend you, cut it off, and cast it from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell.”
It is easy to realize that this is simply not talking about conflicts within yourself but conflicts that you would face that would prevent you from being forgiving and loving towards others. This scripture wants us to realize that it would be better to cut off the emotional attack through forgiveness as soon as possible; for lingering bitterness is like a poison to a persons soul, eventually destroying the spirit man and woman that dwells within.
Ephesians 4:26 reminds us that to not walk in anger that will cause us to sin irrationally from our feelings of bitterness and frustration. It also speaks to not allow that bitterness to stay within you, not even beyond a single day.
So what do we do when you have no choice but to face the confrontation head on? Through God’s love we must forgive.
One of the toughest parts about love is that you must learn to forgive. There are so many other alternatives that you could do to take the easy way out but forgiveness will not be an easy way to take. For example, if you force the issue and yell at someone, then consider what you got in return. You may feel justified for a few moments but through the actions you gave more hurt than you received in justice.I do realize that sometimes to forgive you must release someone from their silly and senseless behavior. I also know that behavior leaves you to feel that something should happen to right the wrongs they have caused. To forgive you must realize no matter what the offense that it is not your right to defend yourself through the feelings of your injustice. Although it may feel good in the short term to lash back out or speak your mind one must ask: what do you gain from your actions? What do people gain from your witness as a Christian if the expressions that you present match up with our image above?