OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS (10): LIVE IN FORGIVENESS

I was teaching a class a while back. When we touched on the subject of forgiveness and why it was important, a young man took a deep sigh and shared his journey:

His father was not the perfect role model. He was a pain to his family. He would get drunk and act in strange ways. The son said he hated the dad’s actions. But he made a discovery that day in class. Even though he hated the dad’s actions, he was already slipping into the same pattern.

Why? The one who locks a man in prison cannot be far from the prison also. The one who keeps a man down would also have to stay down. He admitted that he was already manifesting the tendencies of his father. That day, he decided to forgive his dad.

Forgiveness is one of God’s unique systems of protection. The provocation of men is a temptation. If you do not handle it wisely, it will become a trap for your soul.

Jesus told Peter to forgive as much as possible:

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:21-22 NKJV

A Christian brother hated his dad. His dad abused his mother. He would at times beat her up. He hated the man. He had a word from the Lord to forgive but he refused.

When he got married, he began to show the exact patterns of his dad. He was shocked but he was still proud. He ended up marrying a second and third wife. He would chase out one and marry another. He became worse than the man he refused to forgive.

Beloved, the provocation of men is a trap. When Jesus taught the Lord’s prayer, coming right after forgiveness was deliverance from temptation.

and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:12-13 NLT

If you do not live in forgiveness, you will soon yield to temptation and you leave your life open for the evil one to come in and exit at will. Unforgiveness is the turf where the devil plays his game. Do not play that game with him. Refuse it. Walk the high road of honour and obedience to the will of God.

Grace.

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa