Monday, July 19, 2010

Your Heart, Part 3...

Sometimes, as Christians, we can develop a resentful heart.  How?  When you are in ministry, whether pastoring or teaching or helping etc., you can get hurt.  People do not always respond the way you think they will when it comes to teaching and/or preaching.  This can lead to resentment.

As ministry continues, you can begin to look at that person, and others, and not see them the way Jesus sees them.  Vision can become clouded over with the painful thoughts of what they said and/or did to you.  That is why it is important to practice forgiveness.  It's important to lay the situation at the foot of the cross.  God will help you overcome what others do and say.  Our example is Jesus.  He looked past the fact that people had just crucified Him and asked God to forgive them because they did not know what they were doing.

Now I'm not saying that you go around telling people they just didn't know what they were doing when they said or did whatever they said or did to you, that can be very arrogant.  What I am saying is learn to let things go.  Recognize the fact that you have been forgiven and forgive others.  Resentment can develop very quickly.  So take steps now to recognize that hurts will come and know how you will respond to them, by placing them at the foot of the cross.  Prepare yourself now so that you are ready to defeat resentment when it comes your way.  It's easier said than done, but the truth is the truth, it must be done.  And it can be with Jesus' help.

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