The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Free the Slave!
As a child growing up with three older sisters we played many board games, Monopoly being the most popular. Well, I was reintroduced to the game of Monopoly awhile back, but I was never very successful at it. Forty five years later this still holds true as the first few times we played I kept hearing the same response, “You can’t afford that, you’re bankrupt.”
It didn’t take long for me to lose my little paper money as I made my way down the boardwalk. The rent was too high and I couldn’t afford to pay it.
While pondering on this I realized that you can say the same thing when it comes to holding on to unforgiveness. We can’t afford that either.
It is harmful to our health because it damages our heart, spiritually and physically. It costs too much and we become slaves to that spirit of unforgiveness.
So how can you forgive someone who has wronged you?
I want to share something really wonderful with you that the Lord showed me several years ago.
The book of Philemon is only one chapter but it is so rich in showing us God’s own love and mercy toward us.
This is a letter from the Apostle Paul written to his good friend and brother in Christ named Philemon. Now at that time slavery was a common practice among men, (but it is not ordained by God.), and Paul had encountered a runaway slave, named Onesimus, belonging to Philemon. In his letter, Paul explains that the man has received Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior and Paul implores Philemon to take back Onesimus and receive him as a beloved brother in Christ.
And Paul said, “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave- a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.”
Now this next verse jumped out at me …..
“But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.”
Right then the Lord spoke to my own heart about a situation that I had been dealing with, “Brenda, if that person has wronged you or owes anything, put that on My account.”
It struck me to the core.
Why?
Because Jesus has also paid for their sins on the cross. Their sin debt has been paid, even if they choose to reject Jesus, that is their choice and they will not receive the benefit of that payment (salvation), but that doesn’t mean the debt hasn’t been paid.
“Salvation has appeared to all men.“
The next verse says … ‘I, Paul, am writing with my own hand I will repay- not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.’
My sin debt was also bought and paid for with the same blood sacrifice – Jesus the Lamb of God- just like their debt was paid. We are joint heirs of the grace of God together.
When we forgive from our heart it slams the door shut in Satan’s face, and opens the door for God’s best to flow in our lives.
See the Lord loves us and He knows how bitterness and unforgiveness can be an open road for Satan to come and “steal, kill and destroy” us. It clogs up the drain so to speak, so that the blessings and victories of God’s love cannot flow freely in our lives. It also hardens our hearts, not only toward that person, but toward God.
Also, I am reminded that although we have free will to make choices, it is demonic spirits who influence people’s bad choices. So the real culprit is Satan. People are not our problem.
So if this is you, and someone has wronged you, or even if you are the one who has made wrong decisions in the past, transfer that debt onto Jesus’ account. Talk to Him and settle it quickly, with your whole heart. You can trust Him. And believe that it is done. And He will repay you with joyfulness and gladness. Proverbs 17:22 declares that “A merry heart does good like a medicine.”
We can’t afford the end results of keeping a heart weighted down carrying around a sin debt that has already been paid for.
The Lord is RICH in mercy and grace and freely we have received so freely we can give.
That “slave” who owes you could be a future brother or sister in Christ. I am learning to respond with love and respect.
And if they are a brother or sister in the Lord already, well, we are all learning and growing in our love walk with Jesus according to the time we spend renewing our mind in the word of God. Choose to pray for them and give that person over to the Lord and keep your own heart free.
We cannot afford to allow someone else’s sin toward us to reproduce sin in us.
So choose to forgive, dismiss the charges against them and free the slave, your own heart, because God bankrupted heaven when He sent His Son to die for you.
PS- Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, while grace is getting what we don’t deserve. It is the underserved, unmerited favor of God, not a license to sin. Receive His gift with joyfulness, use it with gladness and keep it with reverence for the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
