The Grace To Do It!

Pray for those who mistreat you. - Luke 6:28 NIV

There's no way to go through life without being hurt. But if you think what the person who hurt you did was bad - wait until you see what bitterness will do. It will extend your pain, infect your attitude, control your moods and cause you to lose friends. Few things are worse than a person who only wants to talk about "what they did to me". Get rid of the score cards. Burn them! If you know where they're hidden you haven't let them go yet. Jesus said, "There is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others" (Matt 6:14-15 TM).

"But you don't know what I've been through." No, but in reading the Scriptures you'll discover what Jesus went through. Would you like to compare notes? His family thought He was mad. Some of those He healed called for His death. Even His disciples bailed out when the going got tough. Then add to that the weight of carrying the sins of the whole world, and you've more than reason to harbour bitterness. But instead He preached forgiveness - from a cross!

And His Word to you today is: "Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back" (Luke 6:28-30 NKJV). You say, "That's hard to do." Yes, but God will give you the grace to do it!

Note: The article is taken from The Word for Today", by Rhema Broadcasting Group in association with The Vine - www.thevine.co.nz.