Mercy

A few years ago I did a spiritual gifts test. One of my top gifts was Mercy. For a minute I was shocked but then as I reviewed past situations I could see that I did have mercy. This lesson started with the scripture reference of Matt. 18:15-35. It’s the question of how much should we forgive someone and the parable of the servant who owed money. The servant begged for the King to be merciful to him and he would pay him back. The King agreed. As soon as he was free he went in search of a man who owed him money. Far less than what he owed the king, but as you know every little bit counts. The man was in the same position as the servant. He pleaded for mercy as the servant had toward the king only the servant did not show mercy on him and threw him in prison. The king found out and was infuriated. He in turn through the servant to be tortured until he could pay the debt back. His debt was so large that the torture would be never ending. He suffered greater consequences because he did not show mercy.
In the next section she talks about forgiveness…even as I write this I’m checking myself on judging…It’s so easy to say “so and so needs to hear this” etc… Beth defines Biblical forgiveness as letting go from one’s power, possession, to let go free, let escape…to cut someone loose. It’s like having the burden tied to your back. Hence, “unforgiveness is the means by which we securely bind ourselves to that which we hate most.” She then illustrated this by saying “forgiveness might best be demonstrated as the practice of cutting loose the person roped to your back.”She brought up the point of how difficult it is to live a Christian life when you have “somebody” strapped to your back because you won’t forgive them. Sure it’s easy to put on the smiling face and act like nothing is wrong but your actions speak louder than your words and in the long run you are doing more damage to yourself. You’re miserable! “The one who will not forgive always suffers more than the one not forgiven” Beth Moore. Re-read the parable again. Unforgiveness tortures the person who harbors it. She goes on to point out that forgiving doesn’t make the action right but it will make you all right. In that aspect you will not be tortured the rest of your life with this thing you would not forgive.When we don’t forgive we’re opening the door for Satan to harbor those thoughts, actions, circumstances etc…in us which then prohibit things from happening, destroying relationships, etc….
Beth closes with this thought ‘Only Satan wins in the war of unforgiveness. When he sees a rope, he sees an opportunity to hang us!”