Daily Devotions

Col 3:13

Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

When Paul ask that we forgive others just as God has forgiven us, this does not mean that sins are condone and wrong doings against us are being excused. There have been many wrongs and sinful acts that may have been committed against us. While the person who did all those things may not even have repented or they may have determined not to apologise or repent, nevertheless Paul is saying that it is upon us to release them and still forgive them.

When we are interacting with people and especially when we are working with co-workers, irrespective of culture, nationality and society sooner or later there will be differences, jealousy, enmity in the relationship among the workers. There will arise gossip, slander, back biting among even the most senior people. Until and unless everyone has grown into maturity, petty jealousy and differences will arise.

The enemy will sow seeds of discourse among the flock and also among the workers. Soon without our awareness there would be groups and cliques that would rise up taking sides and championing their leader or hero. They would want to stand up for the ones they support.

These have happened even in mega Churches where different groups have emerged and they began to tear each other down. This is the work of the flesh and instigated by the devil who wants to split the body of believers. Sometimes the situation becomes so strain that brothers would take each other to court.

If not then the whole Church would be split and the whole congregation destroyed. I have seen many mega Churches and also some other bigger Churches going in this direction. This is because the sin of pride and self-righteousness would come into the hearts of the believers and each will justify their own words and deeds putting themselves above others.

This is so sad and all through the Church history this had happened even during the times of the early Church between even the disciples of John and the disciples of Jesus. Similarly the early Church in the book of Acts also had to deal with some of these problems.

The apostles had also experienced personal attack from others. Therefore what Paul and the other apostles taught not surprising as the human sin nature never left man and they are unable to control this sin nature on their own efforts.

We need the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit to overcome all these challenges and temptation of the flesh. We need to cover our lives with prayers and the meditation of the scriptures to be able to grow into the stature of spiritual maturity.