What Effect Does My Attitude Have On My Actions?
Job 4:8 - "As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it."
James 3:18 - "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
Proverbs 22:8 - "He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed."
When we allow wrong emotions to take root in our lives,
trouble is soon to follow. Even if we try to disguise our feelings, sooner or later they will surface in one form or another. Facial expressions reveal what’s inside. True feelings are hard to hide from others, no matter how hard we try.
When hurt and bitterness are allowed to grow, they will eventually erupt. I'm sure all of us have been upset with someone, but just couldn't tell that person... We usually handle such situations in one of two ways:
(1) We may choose not to say anything to the person we’re upset with but become cold. This may begin by being short with that person during conversations, followed by making hurtful remarks while hiding behind humor. Eventually the friendship ends with the other person hurt and confused as to what happened.
(2) We may try to hide our emotions by pretending the bad feelings don’t exist, which may work for awhile, but in the end it usually blows up in our faces. Have you ever been upset with someone, and one day you couldn’t hold it in any longer—you blew up at that person, telling her everything she ever did that made you mad?
God does not condemn us for having such feelings, but He expects us to learn how to control our emotions. Feelings alone aren’t good or bad—it’s what we do with those feelings that can turn into problems. For example, if we feel anger toward someone, we must forgive, or that anger will soon grow and show in our actions.
During the next week, take a look at how you handle emotions. Try to control your emotions and not react in a way that would be displeasing to the Lord. As we close in prayer, ask God to help you.
I would like to know what you think... Should we forgive, even if a person doesn't apologize?
I would like to know what you think... Should we forgive, even if a person doesn't apologize?
1 comment:
Oooo...excellent question. My understanding is that forgiveness is our position before God, not man. We are commanded to forgive. That does not mean, however, that we can be completely reconciled, or extend mercy, to the person who does not apologize.
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