DAILY DEVOTION No. 14

Eph. 4:31-32 -  “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

An unforgiving heart is the most dangerous heart condition a believer can have. Blessing and power come from love and not offence. If you handle offence the right way, God will bring justice and will be our recompense.

Jesus was our example. When he was mistreated and suffered much for us, did he retaliate? He had every reason to be bitter towards His accusers but kept His spirit clear of offence. Read 1 Peter 2:19-23 and see how Christ handled being mistreated. We see in Verse 23 that when He was reviled He did not revile in return and when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to the Him who judges righteously.

In 1 Sam 25:2-39 we read the story of Nabal and how he had resentment and bitterness towards David. He harboured a grudge to such an extent his heart became like stone and he died inside. If you have a hard, unforgiving heart, you will eventually die inside too. Unforgiveness really affects one person only and that is the one with the unforgiving heart. We will all be tested on forgiveness at some time in our lives. How will you shape up? Will you pass the test?

If you do not forgive, God will not promote you to the next level He has for you. Nothing will rob a Christian of spiritual victory more than a spirit of bitterness or resentment against someone who has wronged him. Bitterness is like a worm that eats into every aspect of your life so that all of your actions are motivated by the festering hatred that you have for the one who has offended you.

God promoted Joseph to a position of power because he had a right heart towards God and towards those who had wronged him. It was not because he was the smartest or the best looking. Gifts are not the criteria, a right heart is.......

An offended heart is not a heart condition God wants us to have. To minister we need to straighten up and change. We must learn to straighten things out before we minister and never minister from an offended heart. Jesus told his disciples in Matt 6:14-15 , “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Challenge

How is your heart at present? Is there any unforgiveness you need to deal with?

Prayer

Lord, give me a heart that is a clean heart. Let me come before you and allow you to take any bitterness or resentment that may be there. Lord, help me to be like You and leave any offence to the One who judges justly.

Rod Best