Faith and Friends - Forgiveness = Intense Love

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Forgiveness = Intense Love

Posted on 2006-Nov-21 at 10:56

I've come to understand something about forgiveness that I'd never seen in this way before. I've been tested in the area of forgiveness a great deal with people that are close to me and I've felt mistreated. One question that comes back into my head over and over referring to the verse "We are to love eachother with an intense love" The Bible tells us to love in this way. I am a lover and I will at times go beyond what makes sense to some people to please or show love. I feel though that I get pushed away and it's not appreciated and I feel hurt. I ask the Lord "How can I love people with an intense love if no one wants it, or they push me away?" If this is what you want, how am I supposed to do it?"

Well, I believe He answered me. On several different situations He's been revealing this to me, but one in paticular stood out and made it very clear. This happened with a person who on several different occasions has initiated and made commitments to me and hasn't followed through. I've let it go each time and I've not let it anger me, change my feelings towards her, or treat her differently. Than one occasion she made a commitment with me and I even turned down someone asking me to help them because I was commited to this situation. I took time out of my day to meet with this person and they were no where to be found. I was furious! This question came back into my mind again. "How do I love people the way you desire when they do these things?" I battled with my feelings of justification and being angry and than thought to myself 'Lord, I will do this Your way. I don't have the authority to judge, only You have that authority. You tell us to love, not judge! You know her heart and if she's wrong You will deal with it and convict her, NOT ME! I will leave that in Your hands because I know that I've made plenty of mistakes that I could be judged for. I can't hold onto this and I will forgive her because that's what You ask us to do... forgive. AHHA! I got it! That's loving with an intense love! Isn't that what Jesus did for us! The greatest Love of all dying on a cross ( dying to self) for our sins so that we could be __________(you fill in the blank) or let me :o) FORGIVEN! Is there any or more great a Love than to die to your pride of being hurt and wanting to hurt back by avenging yourself, and choosing instead to Forgive... completely, totally, with no strings attached... FORGIVE. It's one of the hardest things I've had to do on a regular basis! Especially hard when you have been wronged and hurt by someone close to you and you really want to be pitiful and cry about it, telling all who will listen how you were hurt, but 'love covers a multitude of sins' and remembering this, you choose to tell no one but God and when you tell Him, you give it to Him casting your care of it into His Care. Letting go and releasing it to Him and recieving His Peace in turn because you know heartily that He will take care of everything. In place of the bitterness you almost let take control, you replace it with forgiveness and thanks to God with prayers of blessing on the one who hurt you. WOW! What greater love is there than that... THAT"S PRETTY INTENSE if you ask me :O) That's sacrafice.
I feel like I truley learned what Love is today. The kind Jesus gave us that He died for... the kind we should have for one another... Forgiveness = Intense Love.

faith and forgiveness

Posted by byHisgrace on 2007-Feb-23 at 03:58 - Link
oh yes, i so totally understand. we live in a much too fast paced society centered around our own needs so often that it's very hard to stay focused sometimes.
welcome to blogland!!

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