Transcript
When somebody hurts you, what do you do
Damage has been done
There's a price to be paid and someone has to pay it
There are two paths you can take
One is vengeance
Make them pay for what they did, hurt them
However you can
This might make you feel better for a short time, but in the end, your heart will only grow colder
The other path, the path that Jesus calls us to is forgiveness
Forgiveness is hard
It means refusing to demand payback
Instead, you lay down your right to revenge and suffer the cost yourself releasing the one who hurt you
How do we find the strength to do this
We can do this because Jesus showed us the way on the cross
Jesus paid the ultimate price to forgive you instead of demanding payback for your sin against him
Jesus paid the debt himself and it hurt to the point of death
But Jesus death led to resurrection
And when you forgive, when you die to yourself, that death will also lead to resurrection
True forgiveness always involves suffering
It may even feel like death, but remember, Jesus brings the dead to life