Discover the will of God for you (49)

.How do we do God’s will? (cont)

Why are grudges dangerous?
Read the story of how Absalom murders Amnon who raped Absalom’s sister, Tamar.
“…After two full years…” 2 Sam 13:20-22; 15:1-14.

13:21-24 Hatred leads to disaster. Absalom had reason to be angry with Amnon, but instead of confronting Amnon with his sin, he allowed his anger to turn into hatred. This produced revenge instead of resolution. When you have been wronged or are angry at a wrong done to someone else, try to solve the problem, not get even.
This also led to Absalom’s rebellion and treason against David.
How Can Grudges Be Avoided?

“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you,” (Eph 4:31,32).

This is Christ’s law of forgiveness as taught in the gospels (Mat 6:14, 15; 18:35; Mak 11:25). We also see it in the Lord’s Prayer: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” God does not forgive us because we forgive others, but solely because of his great mercy. As we come to understand his mercy, however, we will want to be like Him. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified him (Lk 23:34).
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord,” (Heb 12:14).

Holiness is being separated from sin and being set apart for God; it is to be close to God, to be like Him, and to seek His presence, righteousness and fellowship with all our hearts. Above all things, holiness is God’s priority for His followers (Eph 4:21-24).
• Holiness was God’s purpose for His people when He planned their salvation in Christ (Eph 1:4).
• Holiness was Christ’s purpose for His people when He came to this earth (Mat 1:21; 1Cor 1:2, 30).
• Holiness was Christ’s purpose for His people when He gave Himself up for them on the cross (Eph 5:25-27).
• Holiness is God’s purpose in making us a new creation and in giving us the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:2-15; Gal 5:16-25; Eph 2:10).
• Without holiness no one can be useful to God (2Tim 2:20-21).
• Without holiness there is no nearness to or fellowship with God (Ps15:1-2).
• Without holiness no one will see the Lord (v.14; Mat 5:8).

“Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled” (Heb. 12:15).

Like a small root that grows into a great tree, bitterness springs up in our hearts and overshadows even our deepest Christian relationships.
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