Theme: Father knows best!
I read this tale once, and when thinking about Pastor Dan’s important message yesterday, I wanted to revisit it as an illustration of what unforgiveness and holding grudges do to us.
One day, two monks were walking through the countryside. They were going to another village to help bring in the crops. As they walked, they spied an older woman sitting at the edge of a river. She was upset because there was no bridge, and she could not get across alone.
The first monk kindly offered, “We will carry you across if you would like.”
“Thank you,” she said gratefully, accepting their help. So, the two men joined hands, lifted her between them, and carried her across the river. When they got to the other side, they set her down, and she went. After they had walked another mile, the second monk began to complain.
“Look at my clothes,” he said, “They are filthy from carrying that woman across the river. And my back still hurts from lifting her. I can feel it getting stiff.” The first monk just smiled and nodded his head.
A few more miles up the road, the second monk griped again, “My back is hurting me so badly, and it is all because we had to carry that silly woman across the river! I cannot go any farther because of the pain.”
The first monk looked down at his partner, now moaning on the ground. “Have you wondered why I am not complaining?” he asked. “Your back hurts because you are still carrying the woman. But I set her down five miles ago.
Why does Jesus tell us repeatedly in the Scriptures to forgive boldly and extremely? Look at what He tells us in Luke 6:28, “But to you who are listening, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.”
Why is this so important to Jesus? There are multiple reasons. One is that He came to earth to forgive us, those who were rebellious, ungrateful, and bent on defying our Creator and Lord. He understands bold forgiveness and the reason for it. Another reason can be found in Romans 12:20, ‘On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Forgiveness and graciousness will heat your enemy’s conscience and cause him to examine his failings.
But, finally, and maybe most importantly, Jesus knows what holding on to anger and resentment will do to us. Like the monk in the story above, holding onto the past will fester into bitterness. When the bitterness grows in us, the abundant life energy that God wants for us is blocked and cannot flow through us. When the Holy Spirit is quenched in this way, it affects us spiritually and physically as we manifest bitterness in every area of life.
The Word of God is many things: infinite wisdom. One of these is a “user’s manual” for these bodies we dwell in, and He created. As we often do, we can ignore our manufacturer and risk breaking down, or we can heed His direction and experience the joy and freedom we were designed to experience.
Living according to God’s direction is not always easy, but the ramifications of not living by His manual will be much harder to bear. This is not “Let go and let God,” but us working within Him to obey His commands and directions to allow His Blessings to flow unimpeded through us. As Paul wrote, “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NIV) Paul knew that anger, resentment, or anything not of the Holy Spirit was a form of selfishness and pride.
There was a popular TV show in the late 1950s and early 1960s called “Father Knows Best.”
They were correct. He does!
Scripture: Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Prayer:
Jesus, thank you for showing us what true forgiveness looks like and how it is perfectly done. Although we fall short so often, you are our North Star. Lord, change our perspective from looking at your Law and direction as tedious and burdensome to knowing we cannot live the full and abundant life you intend unless we follow your ‘user’s manual.’ Let us have glimpses of the powerful lives you promise so we can be motivated to “beat our bodies” to live as you command. Amen!
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