Reposition Yourself

Wednesday night’s REfresh Bible study centered around a life changing topic.  Forgiveness.  I’ve dealt with this topic in previous blog posts because it has transformed my attitude in many ways.  Bible Study Brother’s licensing sermon focused on forgiveness and how important forgiveness was in the life of all believers.  Forgiveness saved our lives and guaranteed us eternal life.  Forgiveness.

My understanding of forgiveness has increased with age, and my pastor furthered expanded my knowledge of a common passage that is used to illustrate the concept of forgiveness.  Whether you’re saved or not, I’m sure you’ve heard of “turning the other cheek.”  For most of my life, that meant that if someone did me wrong, that I should extend grace.  I interpreted that to mean that I had to be a pushover.  After all, Jesus told me to turn the other cheek.

Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean that we allow people to spitefully misuse us.  My pastor admonished that turning the other cheek means that we need to reposition ourselves when we know that we’re in the vicinity of a hurtful person.  What does that mean practically?  If you know that someone gets drunk every night at 7 p.m. and then will call to curse you out, don’t pick up the phone after 7 p.m.  You don’t have to take their abuse to show that you love the Lord.  Reposition yourself and only talk them before their evening libations.  You’re still in fellowship with them, but you have established appropriate boundaries.  You have repositioned yourself.

Forgiveness can feel unnatural at times.  We want people to acknowledge their wrongs.  Or maybe even just stop recommitting their wrongs.  But the Bible doesn’t say forgive them if they stop.  It just admonishes us to forgive.  Right while they’re on our last nerves.  Even if it doesn’t feel good.  We are to forgive.  The fact of the matter is that forgiveness is not always deserved, but it is always necessary.  We have to re position our minds.

Of course, no one should stay in relationship with someone when they are being physically or emotionally abused.  Hopefully, that’s a widely understood concept.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.  We are His workmanship.  Made in His image and likeness.  In those situations, reposition yourself far away.  Stay safe.

Forgiveness has not been a one and done concept for me.  Every day, I choose to let go of past hurts.   That’s right.  I said every day.  I could be going along minding my business and something reminds me of a past offense.  And in those moments, I have to remind myself that I let that go.  Often, I struggle with the concept of forgiveness, because I forget that I have been forgiven.  Jesus died for me knowing that I would be born into sin.  Before I ever asked for forgiveness, He spoke to God and asked for forgiveness for me.  Man!  That’s love.  That’s what Christ wants from me.  And you too.  Reposition yourself to receive the very best that God has to offer when you operate in a spirit of forgiveness.  #wepreach