Wall Free

I guess blogging has taken full swing for me because this blog post came to me late at night.

Well, sorta.  I had already planned to attempt to do a devotional, and if it worked, would continue to write more.

Also, I was having my own personal devotional time when I realized the exact thing I was reading was what I wanted to do my first devotional on.

However, it was still late at night when I realized this was what I wanted to blog about.  So…same thing, right?

Anyways, here is my first devotional.  It may not be perfect, but I hope I am able to say at least one thing that sticks with you.

The devotional I was reading that this is based on was about forgiveness.  To me, forgiveness is a funny thing.  Most people can easily give an apology, yet they can not seem to receive an apology in quite the same way.  Personally, when someone offends me, it truly and deeply offends me.  I am not a person that can just brush it aside, which kinda stinks at times (actually a lot of times).  And honestly, I think most people can say the same thing.  When another individual hurts our feelings or says something that sincerely offends us, we automatically put up a wall.  With this wall, we tend to only think about how the other person hurt us, instead of trying to listen to their apology.  The whole situation becomes about us and how we are hurt, can not trust them, etc.

But you know what?  God does not tell us to build a wall of resentment.  He does not say to ignore an apology, or say something cruel to the other person. 

The Bible tells us to forgive.  In Colossians 3:13 it states, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grieveances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

Did you catch all of that?  Yes, it said to forgive those who apologize for their wrongdoings.  It did not say to half way accept an apology or to ignore it altogether.  If God can forgive those who repent for any possible sin you could ever imagine, is it really so difficult for us to forgive each other? 

As I already admitted, forgiveness is not always an easy thing for me.  I find it depends on the situation.  If you are like me, I encourage you to try, along with me, to stop building walls when others apologize.  Listen to their apology and show compassion and kindness. 

I believe in striving to become better people, better Christians.  So, I hope whoever reads this will join me in becoming “Wall Free” and begin forgiving others in all situations.