Forgive To Be Forgiven - Marlene Custer
Elisha was a prophet of God in the Old Testament. Elisha’s followers wanted to build a place for them to live near the Jordan River. Elisha approved, so their project began. One of them was cutting down a tree when the iron axehead flew off, and landed in the river. Alas, it sank to the bottom out of sight. The man, in a panic, called out to Elisha letting him know the tool was borrowed. Elisha calmly cut a stick and threw it into the water. Miraculously, the iron floated to the top and the man was able to lift it out. This amazing story about Elisha and the floating axehead is found in (2nd Kings 6:1-7 NIV).
There are some ‘axes’ however that are better off being left in the river! I’m thinking about what happens in many relationships. We have an ‘axe to grind’— a hurt, or a wrong done to us by another person. We pray and search the Scriptures. Then we determine to ‘bury the hatchet,’ forgiving the one who hurt us. All is well for a while, until another grievance is encountered, then we allow the buried hatchet to come to the surface again. This is not God’s plan of forgiveness.
In the Bible Jesus warned, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins,” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV). To truly forgive, we must bury the transgression and not bring it back up again. God is our example. Not only does He forgive, but His word promises he will “…tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea,” (Micah 7:19 NIV).
“Father, Thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to practice true forgiveness. When a grievance is buried, help me to leave it buried.”
Marlene is a retired teacher who wants to make Jesus known. Contact
