Refusing to forgive …

I just received permission from Robert D. Jones to include an excerpt from his wonderful book, Uprooting Anger: Biblical Help for a Common Problem, in my dvd study guide.

Thought you might enjoy it too–so here you are!

God bless,
Tara B.

Robert D. Jones lists a number of descriptors about people who hold grudges and refuse to forgive. Do any of these statements describe you? Someone you know? If so, how is God calling you to repent and forgive your offender from your heart (Mark 11:25)?

1. You are forgetting the size of the massive sin debt for which God forgave you (Matt. 18:21-35; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).

2. You are declaring that you do not need God’s forgiveness in your life (Matt. 6:12-15; 18:21-35; Mark 11:25).

3. You are declaring that you do not need God’s mercy on the day of judgment (Mic. 6:8; Matt. 5:7; James 2:13).

4. You are assuming God’s role as Judge (Gen. 50:19; Rom. 12:19; James 4:12).

5. You are forgetting the fact that the offender, as a sinner, is in one sense deceived and enslaved by his sin. You lack compassion (Luke 23:34a; John 8:34; Eph. 4:30-5:2; Col. 3:12-14).

6. You are forgetting the fact that you, as a sinner, are capable of the same sin and that the same root sin may already reside in you (Prov. 16:18; Jer. 17:9; 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12-13).

PS
Sorry that I’m not very chatty–OH MY STARS I have the worst headache! And today is my day to REALLY work on this guide. (Soph’s at a babysitter’s and everything. You should’ve seen her this morning–cowgirl shirt, boot-cut pants, pink boots, I could hardly let her go I just wanted to kiss her all day long. SO CUTE.)

Every step this morning walking Lilikoi was excruciating–OH how I hope this thing goes away. (I just took like 800 mg of Ibuprofen.)

ANYWAY–I hope to be chatty and post pics and all that before too long. But right now I’m pressing on …

Love to all!
— t