Put the Cactus 🌵 Down
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV
Forgiveness. It’s a concept we all know we should extend to others, but it’s easier said than done. Over the next few days, we’ll discuss how to forgive others, ourselves, and even God. Through real-life people’s experiences, discover how you can find freedom through forgiveness.
So because this is the main theme of the entire chapter it would be great if you could go read the entire chapter… but to summarize; in that entire chapter Paul is explaining to the believers that they are one body and that every investment that Christ has made into the body is so that we grow together healthily into Him as the head and therefore it would be pointless to have bitterness and grudges in the body.
When I used to imagine forgiving others, I always had a picture of what it would look like. First, the person would realize on their own what they had done and how deeply it had hurt me. Second, they would come to me with some big apology wanting to put forth effort and hard work to make everything okay in our relationship again. Sounds simple enough, right?
I lost a friendship of 12years and I still after about 6 years cannot ascertain for a fact whether I’m actually over that ! So I for one can testify that it’s not as simple as it sounds to always maintain the bond of peace!
This isn’t a new concept. Since the beginning of time humans have hurt one another. But we’ve all got a choice to either keep holding onto the grudge we’ve been carrying—that self-justified anger that weighs us down and keeps a detailed list of how the other person has wronged us—or to let it go, moving our pride aside and deciding the relationship is worth fighting for by giving our forgiveness.
Here’s the deal: Holding onto a grudge is kind of like holding onto a cactus. Hang with me on this. It keeps others away from you and it keeps pain inside of you. It doesn’t matter if someone else handed you the cactus. It’s your responsibility to put it down.
You see, forgiveness isn’t actually about the other person. Forgiveness is a decision I have to make for myself—a decision to let go of my grudges and choose freedom and love over anger. To choose peace over pain. To choose keeping the relationship over keeping score of who’s right.
In Ephesians 4, Paul tells the Church to lay aside all bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. Instead we should speak kind and loving words toward one another. Why? Because God has graciously forgiven us.
We are so unworthy of forgiveness, yet Jesus gives it freely to us. We are called to be like Him. To show others the love of Christ. What better way to exemplify His love to others than to forgive them?
Take a minute and think; “What grudges are you holding on to? How might you let go of your grudge and choose forgiveness instead?”
Put the Cactus down!
Xo,
Zoe 🌟