Daughters of Sara: The Cost Of Forgiveness

Daughters of Sara: The Cost Of Forgiveness:                                                 We don't think twice when we walk in a store and buy groceries, or go to a gas ...

The Cost Of Forgiveness

                                           



   We don't think twice when we walk in a store and buy groceries, or go to a gas station and purchase gas. When we pay a babysitter to watch our children for a couple hours. Or when we pay our bills. We know what we are paying for and what we are receiving in return.

                                                       But What Is The Cost Of Forgiveness?


I borrowed my sister's automatic lawn mower this past weekend. It's the only one she has, but she went ahead and let me borrow it anyway. I was mowing my grass and it got caught up on my rose bushes and broke the line on the mower, rendering it useless. I had broke her mower, on accident, mind you, but I had broke it. She had left for the weekend out of town, so I had a day or two to worry about it till she got home. I was so upset I barely got any sleep that night, worried, knowing how much I was putting her in a bind because her yard was so much bigger than mine and worried about her forgiving me for braking something she not only needed, but she trusted me to take care of.
                                                                          I was so upset I started praying and reading God's word. And this is what God gave me...  Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
                                                                           No, I hadn't talked to my sister yet but the great councilor had given me peace, and His peace passes all understanding. So I waited for my sister.

                                                                            She had every right to be angry, to hold a grudge. But I told her what happened and waited for her response.....And if Christ was speaking thru her, she said " I love you sister, it's just a lawn mower. It can be replaced, our relationship can't." Just like that she forgave me!
The tears came streaming down my face, knowing she had every right to be angry, she had every right not to forgive me, The day I had spent worrying, the night I had stayed up crying, In all my worrying I hadn't once thought of the cost of her forgiveness.
                                                                            Love is "forgiveness" whatever the cost. Jesus was our example for that.  Collisions 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

                                                                               What makes something expensive, is the quality in which it is made.  When you are in Christ, you are made of Righteousness, Grace, Kindness, Goodness, Mercy and the Love of God.   1 Corinthians 13:4-8  Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

                                                                              Forgiveness always costs something, but what we are purchasing is far better. Forgiveness brings us closer to our Father in heaven. And It allows Christ to shine thru us.  Matthew 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

                                                                             My sister forgave me without a moments thought, she truly acted as an Ambassador of Christ. I don't know what all it cost her to forgive me, but I do know the price she paid, showed me just how much Christ loves me. For In that moment of forgiveness I saw Christ in her.

                                                      It cost God His Son because He loved us......  It cost Christ the cross, for our sins to be forgiven. God paid the ultimate price, He counted the cost and deemed us worthy. What a wonderful God we serve.
       
                                                                           Remember when you forgive as Christ commands, you are purchasing blessings this world cannot take away. You are allowing  Christ to shine thru you, and letting people see the love of Christ in you.

                                  Don't let the cost, rob you of your blessing! Just Forgive!