To Forgive Or Not To Forgive?, That Is the Question

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:23-26 NIV).

Often on Fridays, I tweet, "T.G.I.F., Thank God I'm Forgiven (And It's Friday)! I teach Spiritual Gifts at church, and often in Spiritual Gifts class, I will use the acromyn "TGIF" as an icebreaker by asking members to unscramble it to form new words, phrases, and sentences. This exercise helps each person to understand that they have at least one "GIFT," and they "FIT IT," because they are "GIFT-IT" of God to do the work that He has called them to do (Ephesians 4:7-8).

The whole discussion of forgiveness is important because the Bible places forgiveness above or before giftedness, "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

It is sad to see gifted people at odds with each other in the church. What is worse is to see bickering parties continue their anomosity for years, even decades. However, the Bible says not only is there a frequency within which we are to forgive, seven times seventy (Matt. 18:21), but that there is a timeframe within which we are to forgive, "quickly" (v 25). We should do everything we can to resolve our differences often and to settle them out of court, Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge (v 25).

To Forgive or not to forgive?, that is the question. Jesus forgave the unfaithful wife of her sin (John 8:7). Will you forgive someone in your life of their sin? Have we truly forgiven white America for 400 years of oppression? Unforgiveness can cause us to be bound when we stand before Judge Hatchett, Judge Mathis, Judge Judy, or Judge Joe Brown! Forgiveness, brothers and sisters, keeps us out of Divorce Court, The People's Court, the court of public opinion, and most importantly, it keeps us out of God's court where the devil and his demons stand ready to accuse.

If you have something against someone, choose to forgive them and then bring your gifts to God or, "the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (v26).

Today, I want to share with you an example of what Jesus can do for us when we choose to forgive. The following is a comment left on one of my blogposts, Jesus Saves Gangsters, Too, at http://www.jesussavesministries.blogspot.com/ in December 2009.

Anonymous said...

I would like to share my experience, strength and hope with another person. I was shot point blank in the back of the head by my cousin, AND JESUS SAVED ME. I am able to function normally. I have had no serious side affects as a result of this. I not only over came the injury but after 10 years I am able to say through the help of Jesus I forgave my cousin for trying to kill me.

Monday, 07 December, 2009

Jesus Saves Ministries said...

Your statement is a testimony to the power of Almighty God! Thank you so much for sharing it. It has blessed me and I have sent it on to others to bless them too. Forgiveness takes the offender off your hook and puts him on God's hook where he belongs. Praise be to God for the conviction he gave you to forgive. The world would be a better place if only we could forgive one another.

God bless you!

Thursday, 10 December, 2009

Game Sportsmanship: When A Loss Is Really A Win

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Brandon Flippins, a University of Louisville graduate, honored his bet and donned his stepbrother's University of Kentucky sweatshirt briefly after UL's loss to UK on New Year's eve.

My husband, Bill and I hosted a UL-UK game party on New Year's eve. In Kentucky, everything comes to a screeching hault when these two teams take to the basketball court.  We were excited because it was the first UL-UK basketball game in the new arena, the KFC Yum Center.

My son, Brandon Flippins lost a bet to my stepson, Jonathan Price, and Brandon and had to put on an "ichy" UK sweatshirt! Brandon stated, "I'm going to be a man of my word, and honor our bet even though my team lost."  I was in the background praying for Brandon, "Oh, Lord, have mercy on him!"  Brandon and I are both UL graduates, so putting on anything blue and white is out of the question - smile! 

I believe UL's loss was Brandon's win.  In an era where less and less sportsmanship is being displayed among athletes, and fans, for children to emulate, we need men to be men and show young men how to be good sportsmen.  I appreciate my son taking the "high road" and "manning up," as the fellas say. 

Jonathan and Brandon Lawrence, one of Bill's friends from WLOU Radio, were the only two UK fans in the group. They were great sportsmen in their victory, no extensive showboating and taunting, none of that.   I was proud of them, too. 

Let's step up, athletes, and sports fans and be willing to shake hands at the end of these games and begin to do better by God and by our children.  You can say what you want. Young people are watching what you do, not what you say.  Let's set better examples of Christian maturity and show the world what it means to be followers of Jesus Christ.  That is my prayer for 2011.  What's yours?  View more pictures at wlouonline.com.

Find more photos like this on Jesus Saves Ministries

At Annual Holy Convocation, COGIC Plans to Do Some Door-to-Door Evangelism - BCNN1

By: Min. Angela Lee Price

Well, lookie here! I have found a few street walkers and it is marvelous in my eyes! The Church of God In Christ demonination will be taking it to the streets in full force to do the dog-on thang! They are going door-to-door to evangalize the streets of St. Louis during their annual convention November 8-16.

This fantastic turn of events is happening just when I was beginning to believe that old fashion "cold calling" was dead. The latest research suggests that most people join church through the influence of family members. We should do all possible to reach those for Christ who are closest to us. After all, friends don't let friends miss heaven. The thing that gets me though is so many organizations out on the streets in full force for their cause, raising lots of money in fact, and the church is no where to been seen. Many of those do-gooding people don't know Jesus from a whole in the ground, but by their shear numbers, creativity, and outward show of unity, they make a mockery of the Christian faith. This article on the COGICs is a "good look!"

At Annual Holy Convocation, COGIC Plans to Do Some Door-to-Door Evangelism - BCNN1

It is not Mohammad, Buddha, Confucius, nor New Age that saves.  Jesus saves!