"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
STEPS TOWARD FORGIVING
BY
ANN SULLIVAN
ROMANS 12: 19 "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
1. Pray that God will forgive you for wrong feelings you have toward another person.
Galatians 5: 14
2. Understand that the person has a reason to act the way he does toward you even if it
derives from something that has nothing to do with you.
I Peter 3: 8-9
3. Pray for the person to have something good happen to him.
Romans 12: 14
4. Look, ask, and seek to find something good about the person.
Romans 12: 10
5. Talk to the person and express respect for him if you want him to respect you.
Matthew 18: 15 and Matthew 5: 23-24.
6. Do something for the person that you know he would like, but do not expect anything
in return.
Matthew 5: 44
In the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32) Do you sometimes feel like the brother who felt it was unfair for his brother to get the attention? "And he was angry, and would not go in; therefore came his father out, and intreated him." (Luke 15:28)
In the true story about Mary and Martha, do you sometimes feel like Martha? (Luke 10: 40-42) "Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things; But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Jesus did not say that housework was wrong. Martha had the what about her attitude.
John 21: 21-23
"Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and WHAT SHALL THIS MAN DO?
Jesus said unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, WHAT IS THAT TO THEE?
Follow thou me. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die; yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, WHAT IS THAT TO THEE?"
Isn't it like people to miss the main point.
Luke 15: 11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal
The parable of the prodigal is a perfect illustration of REPENTANCE. He had a chnge of mind, a change of heart, and a change of will.
(a) The intellectual element, "He came to his senses."
(b) The emotional element, "I have sinned."
(c) The action element, "I will get up and go to my father."
Repentance is a change. The prodigal had a change of mind; and his change of mind effected a change of heart; and his change of heart effected a change of will. Repentanced is a change of mind, of heart, and of will.
II Peter 3: 9
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."