"Do you have a hole in your heart?
Perhaps the wound is old...and you're angry.
Or perhaps the wound is fresh...and you're hurt.
Part of you is broken, and the other part is bitter. Part of you wants to cry, and part of you wants to fight. THe tears you cry are hot because they come from your heart, and there is a fire burning in your heart. It's the fire of anger. It's blazing. It's consuming. Its flames leap up under a steaming pot of revenge.
And you are left with a decision: "Do I put the fire out of heat it up? Do I get over it or get even? Do I release it or resent it? Do I let my hurts heal, or do I let hurt turn into hate?
Are you allowing you hurts to turn into hates? If so, ask yourself: Is it working? Has your hatred done you any good? Has you resentment brought you any relief, any peace? Has it granted you any joy?
Allow the hurt in your heart to heal."
Passage: Matthew 18:23-35 (side note: I included several translations, and generally will include all of these, but for this passage, it is pretty straightforward so you might not need all four.)
Max's Questions:
- Describe the struggle between releasing or resenting someone after they've hurt you.
Oh man, it's terrible. So many parts of you (me) can feel violated, and I just want to hold on to my anger until EACH part of me that was hurt has been avenged and then some. Usually, that pay back will never ever ever ever come. Never. I will never get my ex-"boyfriend" to apologize for the however-many-times he cheated on me, and at such specific times in my life; I will never get some of my friends to admit they were really wrong... I will never have that. Never. But it's almost as though that makes me want to hold on more. But, deep down I know that letting go is the only way. Sometimes I pray that God would take those burdens, but I can tell that my prayer isn't really earnest, so how could God take them if I'm not really offering them? Well, he can do whatever he wants but....yeah you get the point.
- Explain how it benefits us to show mercy to others.
Jesus told us that the (second) most important command was to love others as ourselves. So, if we expect mercy, we must and should show mercy to others. Not only that, but showing true mercy (mercy without too many strings attached...as many strings as a human can go WITHOUT attaching) is the only way to find rest in our souls. The only "extinguisher" for the fire that Max described earlier. Mercy is a release - a relief. But, its hard to get there.
- Why do you think God puts such a priority on our willingness to show mercy?
Well, logically I'm feeling like saying that we shouldn't expect that which we aren't willing to exhibit. Jesus told us "do unto others as you would have them do unto you"....(awesome, quote of that for the second time this blog)...and so, if maybe that statement works the other way, "expect done unto yourself as you have done unto others"? Not sure, but seems like it might hold some water. Oh yes and I thought of something else....you see, we CLEARLY don't know the complete story. God knows every though, emotion, situation, conversation, hypothetical conversation, etc that we (or anybody else) ever have. So, how could we truly judge fairly (not show mercy) to those whose story we are so vaguely familiar with compared to how much God is familiar with their story?
- How should God's mercy to us impact the way we treat others?
A truly thankful heart would just have that reaction. Think about the end of "It's a Wonderful Life" (or is it "wonderful world"? Whatever. The black and white Christmas movie, you know...) where the guy runs around telling everyone thanks for saving his business? (Admittedly I haven't exactly watched the movie in whole, therefore I'm a little hazy on what really happens but I'm pretty sure that is the idea.) So yeah when someone does something nice for you, and you appreciate it, doesn't it or shouldn't it increase your desire to pass it on? Pay it forward? Coke commercial, anybody? Or...that other commercial about this concept? Real-estate or something? Okay am I getting through? Whatever. The point is that if we were grateful for what God gave us, we would want to share it by extending the same to others.
- In your own words, define judgement without mercy.
We'd all go to hell. As far as human life, we would all hate each other and nobody would be friends.
- What most often stands in the way of our showing mercy?
Well, anger! Resentment! The unwillingness to let go. Wait, perhaps that is all summed up in the word "pride"? We can't be confidant enough in our own thoughts and decisions - or big enough to apologize for them - to live without holding grudges to those who made us question ourselves. As if it matters.
- What does showing mercy bring into our lives?
PEACE!!! Oh my gosh. Peace. Release, relief.
- To whom do I need to show mercy? How?
My ex-boyfriend. I am so angry with him. He hurt me in so many ways. I blame him for so many problems. I need to let go of my blame and focus on God's ability to heal me instead of attempting to rely on anger's ability to justify me.
-prayer-
Holy Father,
I praise your name. I'm tired and weary and I seek rest in You. Please take away my pride and resentment, anger and resistance, and allow my heart to let go and show me how to, in turn, show mercy. Please forgive me for holding on and help me to find rest in you and not in anger.
In your most precious and holy name I pray,
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment