Archive for the ‘Forgiveness’ Category

3 Jun

AGAPE NUGGETS

Posted by AgapeFocus in AGAPE NUGGETS, Christian Living, Forgiveness. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

Christians are Forgiven Sinners Empowered to forgive others and Called to spread the Good News of the Forgiveness freely offered by God to everyone though Jesus Christ. We spread the Good News because of the appeciative love of God deposited in our spirits by the Holy Ghost.(John 3: 14-17; Matthew 18: 21-35; Romans 5: 1-10; Ephesians 2: 8-10).

25 Feb

FORGIVENESS IS IMPERATIVE FOR THE CHRISTIAN

Posted by AgapeFocus in Christian Living, Forgiveness. Tagged: , , , , , , , , .

We often pray to God and ask for his forgiveness. We need his forgiveness so much because without it we are out of fellowship with him. Jesus said; But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:15. Not forgiving our brothers and sisters is equal to walking in darkness.
He who hates brother is in darkness,  and walks in darkness.He is like a blind man. 1 John 2:9-11. Such a person is merely doing religion; he is not having fellowship with God.
Tom Huffy told a story in his devotional titled TIME ALONE WITH GOD. It was about two very close brothers who did and owned joint business in a store. The business flourished in the community. One of the brothers placed a Dollar on the counter but while he turned around the dollar had vanished out of sight. He asked his brother if he had taken the money. The other brother denied taking the money. A hot argument developed. Neighbours got involved and they took sides. Eventually the joint business ended and the store was partitioned. Competition for business started between the two brothers. This continued for twenty years until light was shed on the darkness of their lives. A big car pulled up in front of the store and a wealthy man got out. He walked into the store and asked to speak to both brothers. Unaware of what happened to the brother’s partnership, the man confessed to stealing the dollar as a little boy.
Twenty years of bitterness with wasted opportunities of better business. Those neighbours who wrongly took sides in an unnecessary quarrel are also to be blamed, but the two brothers made the loophole.
Dear friends, please give your brother, sister, spouse or neighbours the benefit of a doubt in questionable cases. Do not draw the line of break or partition too soon. How would you feel to be wrongly accused? Seek peace and pursue it. And furthermore;  Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the LORD.
For the Christian, forgiveness is not a matter of choice, but a command. Let us walk in love; forgiving one another. Those two brothers did not betray trust at the beginning, but they failed in the day of trouble. Wrong or false accusations are not tenable. Bringing in third parties into a dispute should be carefully and sparingly done. What is 1 dollar?  What is brotherly kindness and love? What is mutual trust? Where was second chance? What about the benefits of a necessary doubt; and that for your business partner or spouse?
Grace be with you all.

6 Dec

NELSON MANDELA DEPARTS : TRIBUTE TO A GREAT GLOBAL ICON OF PEACE

Posted by AgapeFocus in Condolence, Current Affairs, Forgiveness. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

President Nelson Mandela, the indefatigable, resilient, freedom and human rights champion has departed the world stage at the age of 95 years. He passed away 8.50 p.m. on Thursday, 5th December 2013, after a long battle with lung infection. Current President, Jacob Zuma made the passionate announcement to the world. We salute his courage, boldness,vision, forgiveness, patriotism and humanity. A great global icon of peace has departed. In his humility and politics, neither was he selfish nor power-drunk. May the Almighty God comfort his family, the Republic of South Africa and lovers of peace, freedom, democracy and justice all over the world. South Africa, Africa and the World has become impoverished by his departure. For all eulogies to be meaningful, his legacies must be upheld and practically passed on to succeeding generations across the world, especially in South Africa. Death is inevitable. Let each person, whether in public office or not; in close relationship with Madiba or not; bear it in mind: that the bell of summons would ring for each one of us sooner or later. In the words of the Psalmist; may God teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom(Psalms 90:12). In the Letter of James in the Bible, it is written: Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.James 4:13-17. And so Nelson Mandela departs.

15 Oct

Forgiveness in Marriage

Posted by AgapeFocus in Forgiveness, Marriage and Family, On Relationship. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

In ordinary human relationships, the issue of forgiveness is very vital for continuity. It is human to make mistakes, but that is no excuse for repetition of the same mistakes. If a person takes his or her relationship seriously, he would not indulge in causing sorrows to the other person at the expense of the continuity or stability of the relationship. In marriage, forgiveness occupies an important place. A husband and his wife interact every moment daily, throughout their life time. It is inevitable for offences to occur. However, when offences do occur, it should be handled patiently,in love and give the other person, room for correction, apologies, and improvement. Nobody should be judgemental or condemning. It is good to consider yourself, assuming you are the offender or one who made a mistake. Where there is understanding, no offence or wrong is too big to be forgiven. The peak of offence may be taken as infidelity. That, as big and horrible as it sounds and feels can yet be forgiven. Any offence that could be forgiven by God should be forgiveable by human beings.It is written: Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you[Ephesians 4:32]. Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful[Colossians 3:13-15]. The marriage relationship does not thrive or succeed with a ‘TIT FOR TAT’ or retaliatory attitude. We should not render evil for evil or insult for insult. Rather, we should live good and peaceful lives that are harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind and humble, blessing each other verbally and in actions[1 Peter 3:8-9]. This may not be very easy, but God gives the grace to each person to make us able. God never asks us to do what is impossible! With God, all things are possible.