“See to it that no-one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:15
Holding a grudge is a lousy way to live. So we are hurt or offended and then, out of anger or the need to get even, refuse to let it go. And who does it hurt? Who becomes the lesser person? Who, due to their anger and hatred, are difficult to live with? Who becomes so sensitive that every little thing now sets them off? People who will not forgive are very difficult to remain close with - eventually their toxicity drives people away. Jesus is not toxic and if we want to be like Him neither should we. God holds no grudges:
FOR HIS OWN GOOD…
“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25
Can you imagine what God would be like if He were to hold grudges? How terribly frightening He would be. Also, since He knows everything, there would be no end to all the sins He would have to deal with. If God held grudges, so much bitterness and resentment would build up in Him over the many, many of years of our sin. God, the perfect one, would drive Himself to madness and vengeance.
So for his own sake God will not hold a grudge. He refuses to hold our sins against us because He is joy - not bitterness, He is all sufficient - not needful, He is peace - not chaos, He is love - not hate, and He is light - not darkness. Resentment towards us would negate who He is.
“…Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
…AND CERTAINLY FOR OURS.
“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives…? You do not stay angry for ever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19
God does not hold grudges because He can't, but more than that, He doesn’t want to. He loves us so much and delights in showing His mercy. Unlike what some think, God is not angry by nature, nor does He like to punish. Out of His compassion, God wants to remove our sins so we can be friends and family. Because God holds no grudges, He can be trusted with any and everything.
“As the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12
from sermon notes 9/25/22
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