Increase your understanding beyond your title expectations
Tribulation Week - Raise your understanding beyond expectations
(Luke 23:32-43)
People want power and blessings. To make that wish come true, above all else, you must be good at forgiveness. But forgiveness is not easy. Forgetting the hurt or letting it go is not forgiveness. Saying “I forgive you!” lightly is not forgiveness. Forgiveness should be central. So it's difficult. However, since it is difficult to forgive, if you forgive, power will appear, disease will fall, and the door of blessing will open. Also, true forgiveness changes people.
When Jesus was crucified, robbers were also crucified on the left and right sides (verse 33). At first, both thieves reviled Jesus (Matthew 27:44). But later, when one of the two thieves mocked Jesus, the other thief rebuked the taunting thief and said, “Do you not fear God, even though you are under the same condemnation? We receive a fair reward for our deeds, of course, but this man has done nothing wrong.” After saying that, they confess their faith to Jesus. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Why did the thief curse Jesus and later make a beautiful confession of faith? It is because of the words of forgiveness that Jesus said on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (verse 34). These words of forgiveness are the first of seven hypothetical words spoken on the cross. Forgiveness is the first central message of Christianity and the central meaning of the cross. But people are not good at forgiveness. How can I forgive?
1. We must pray.
Jesus prayed for forgiveness even on the cross, where it was impossible to pray. So pray for forgiveness. Forgiveness is not easy. Forgiveness does not work well by human will or determination. So we need prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit. If there are still people who have not forgiven, it is because they have not prayed enough yet.
If you pray, you will change yourself before solving problems and answering questions, and you will have a forgiving heart. So pray for your spouse and children. Furthermore, pray for your enemies and those you hate. When you have a heart for forgiveness through prayer like this, you will find peace in your heart, and then the chains of disease and curse that have bound you will be released.
Don't just ask God for the 'grace of forgiveness' to forgive, but ask for the 'power of forgiveness' that allows you to forgive. If you get hurt too much in your life, prayer will not work well, but the more you pray, the more you pray. Praying brings peace to your heart. When we pray, we come to realize that being hurt without hurt is a blessing, that being betrayed without being betrayed is a blessing, and that there is a good will of God even in our wounds. That's when his wounds heal quickly.
If you clench your fists and get angry, the road will be blocked, but if you put your hands together to pray and forgive, the road will open. If you pray, you will have the courage to forgive, and you will see only the strengths of the person who hurt you, not the weaknesses. This makes forgiveness easier. Therefore, to become the victor of forgiveness, we must become the victor of prayer.
2. You must understand.
Jesus said this when he asked us to forgive us on the cross. “Because they do not know what they are doing.” Humans are fragile beings who do not know what they are doing. As such, the more we know about a person's weakness, the more we can forgive. No one is perfect in this world. Therefore, if you see someone's wrongdoing, calmly try to understand him. In fact, his faults are usually those of the past and those of the present. So, don't break the relationship by trivial differences.
There is a church called “Right Foot Baptist Church” in Tennessee, USA. There was a history of the church having such an unusual name. One day, in a church, there was a washing ceremony just like Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. Do you wash your left foot first?” was a controversial issue. In the end, after the argument that the left foot should be washed first won the battle, the people who insisted that the right foot should be washed first split up and built a church called “Right Foot Baptist Church”.
When a person is close, they have high expectations of the other person and are often disappointed by trivial things, but raise understanding above expectations. Also, when people get close, many flaws are revealed. Don't keep trying to expose those shortcomings. In order for a couple to live happily ever after, never talk about each other's faults and the faults of the other's family. Also, don't attack your opponent's weaknesses head-on, and don't reveal your true weaknesses and shameful things to others as much as possible.
When sharing prayer topics, even if you say, “Please pray for my husband’s faith!” My husband is addicted to gambling, so please pray!” Those words can eventually be used to curse and gossip about your husband in the name of sharing prayer topics. If you do not share prayer topics wisely, the time you share prayer topics can be a time to spread gossip and gossip.
In any case, at church and at home, do not put a lock on your mouth and say anything that could cause harm to others. Also forgive each other's past. Why is the marital relationship broken? This is because whenever they are upset, they point out past mistakes and stab others. No matter how heartbroken you may be, don't keep talking about the mistakes of the past. We can forgive a little more when we have the heart to know and understand that all people are lacking and ignorant.