|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
“Jerks
& the Secret of Sturdy Faith”
Imagine
driving to work on a busy highway, minding your own business. Suddenly, to
your right, someone runs a stop sign and with squealing tires, zips in
front of your car, forcing you to slam on the brakes and pull off to the
side of the road. As you try to calm your nerves, the jerk in the other
car never seems to acknowledge his mistake and speeds on down the highway. How
would you react? Would you scream, cry, shake your fist, curse him and all
of his ancestry? Would you spend the rest of the morning, describing what
happened to your coworkers? Would your day be ruined, all because of the
senseless, irrational, act of a stupid jerk who thinks the open road is
paved for him. And another thing… you are sick and tired of being the
patsy?!!! (Calm down, Larry.) (Okay…
I’m calm now.) Yet, the other driver... the jerk who caused all of your
suffering is merrily going on with his life having no knowledge of what he
did to you. Think about it. The other driver was responsible for the
near-accident but your reaction was not his fault. It was yours. The real
damage was entirely self-inflicted. In a word, it is called: resentment. One
definition of resentment is to re-feel the pain. Resentment is like
accidentally cutting your hand with a knife and then deciding to avenge
yourself by stabbing the other hand. Ouch, that hurts! The
disciples were asking Jesus how to strengthen their faith. Jesus
said: “If your brother (or sister) sins, rebuke him and if he repents,
forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day and seven times
comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” (Luke
17:3,4) Does
this mean we have to forgive the jerk that tried to run over us? No way!
Anyway, what does this have to do with faith?
This is exactly what the people listening to Jesus asked and He
answered them: “If
you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry
tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” (Luke
17:6) What? What does that mean? |
Look for Larry's Latest book coming March 25, 2007. "Live the Light! Five Weeks to a Life that Shines!"
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The mulberry tree has extensive roots that run deep into the soil.
It’s nearly impossible to uproot. Resentment has extensive roots that
run deep within our soul and is nearly impossible to overcome. Forgiveness
is a process that begins as a tiny mustard seed. As the mustard seed of
forgiveness grows the roots of resentment, like the mulberry tree are
loosened and our faith is strengthened. Do you
want to strengthen your faith? Then, learn to forgive… ·
A spouse or former spouse
who hurt you deeply. ·
Maybe a boss or fellow
worker who stepped all over you. ·
A trusted friend who
violated your confidence. ·
A parent or relative who
abused you. ·
And usually… you need to
forgive yourself. Does
this kind of forgiveness sound impossible?
Sure it is... without God. Yet, one psychiatrist wrote that 75% of his
patients could walk out of the hospital if they could truly understand
what it means to forgive and be forgiven. Such is the power of grace. Let
me give you an example: In 1660,
John Bunyan was thrown into prison just for being a Christian. He could
have let the experience ruin him but instead chose to forgive everyone
involved and used the isolation as an opportunity to write Pilgrim’s
Progress, one of the most influential Christian books ever written.
The power of learning to forgive can produce that kind of sturdy faith
within you. Does an attitude of forgiveness ever come easy? Never! It’s a process that we must work at continually but God makes a clear promise that your willingness to forgive will give you a faith that will move mountains and change your life. Great! Now if I can only forgive that jerk on the highway that almost killed me! Last modified November 22, 2000. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Do you have a question or concern? Write me at this address: LarryDavies@SowingSeedsofFaith.com Prayer Requests • Weekly Devotion • Devotional Aids • Ministry • Devotions • Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit • Hot Issues • Turning Points • Divorce • Prayer • About Sowing Seeds of Faith |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|||
|
©2000 RED Problems with the web site? Contact the webmaster. RedEyeDesigns |
