Shake Off, Step Up!

“Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks for forgiveness, you must forgive”” Luke 17:4

“Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “But seventy times seven!” Matt.18:21-22. Yes, even the disciples had to deal with this. So Just like Jesus, I am saying forgive again. Remember the story from yesterday? The person actually solved the issue. The person said, when I grow up what that person does repeatedly will stop being a problem to me. In other words, when someone’s behavior upsets you over and over and over again, it is because you have not grown. Ouch! I do not mean any disrespect, in fact let me go ahead and say forgive me too if that hurts you, but this is the truth being said, in love. The reason why that thing your spouse does is still irritating you for the past twelve years is because you have not grown for the past twelve years. I think I am walking on water right now. I need a miracle to stay afloat. But it is the truth! You cannot change the other person; the only thing you can change is your response. If there is something about my spouse that is not necessarily a sin that the person is going to hell for, but I just don’t like it and it is ticking me off. The same thing ticked me off ten years ago, it ticked me off five years ago, and it is still ticking me off today. What does that tell you about me? A perpetual baby! That’s just the truth. There are things my wife used to do and maybe she still does but I do not respond the way I used to respond. I am not that premature anymore, I’ve grown. So the things that would make my lid go off, do not make it go off anymore. It doesn’t mean that I won’t tell her if it is wrong. I will still tell her it is wrong, lovingly. Forgive! And I gave the person an illustration of what someone I know used to say, that this group of people were planning to bury a donkey alive. So they pushed the donkey into a pit and begun shoveling dirt on the donkey. But before they knew it, the donkey was standing, facing them and they were both shocked and puzzled. And the donkey said, all the dirt you poured on me, I shook it off and stepped on it. As you pour the dirt, I shake it off, step on it. You pour the dirt, I shake it off and step on it. You pour the dirt, I shake it off, step on it, and move up higher. If you stay there and you don’t shake it off, they will bury you with it. But you will not be buried in Jesus Name because you will fulfill your destiny. Shake it off and step on it.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please let this Word renew my mind and my way of thinking, renew my heart and the words I speak, and let it renew me and my actions, in Jesus Name.