Daily Devotional for Thursday, September 10

The Instructions

“To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices,” 2 Corinthians 2:10, 11.
Everyone reading this has dealt with the need to forgive or the need to receive forgiveness on one level or another. How should you forgive? You are taught through Scripture to forgive as God forgives. God forgives with a no strings attached way. Meaning, He welcomes you back into fellowship with Him as if nothing happened.
When you are confronted with needing to forgive or be forgiven, can you honestly say, “I forgive you” with the full intention of welcoming that person back into the same relationship status as before the offense. This is difficult because people have put stipulations on forgiveness. People forgive with an “I forgive you…but.” Can you imagine God saying that to you! No, He never would. One big argument you might hear is, “I am not God, so I cannot.” Or “I am not God, so He does not expect me to.” So true, you are not God, but you have His Holy Spirit within you to do the things He would do. Only by the strength and grace of God can you forgive with a no strings attached mentality.
This is the kind of forgiveness Paul was mentioning to the Corinthians. Without naming names to show love and mercy, he told the church to forgive and welcome back into the fellowship the man who was disciplined.
Notice the reason for forgiveness; it is very important. “Lest Satan should get advantage of us” (verse 11). When you refuse to forgive, or forgive with a stipulation, it allows Satan to have access to your thoughts, which will be full of bitterness. Remember your thoughts come out in words.

Something To Think About
Though it is not easy, ask God to help you forgive His way so Satan cannot gain territory in your mind.

Karry Irizarry