Is it harder to forgive a believer?

It often is....because we know - they know better! It can be so hard to show the grace to them that Christ shows to us...oops! Wait a minute! ;) Is that the answer to the problem? (BTW, if you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem) Yes, it is the answer-IF we can remember the huge grace extended to us by Christ, then it is a whole lot easier to forgive them. Of course it helps if they see the error of their ways, but don't hold your breath on that one! Instead pray for the Lord to change your heart before you pray for God to change theirs. (Then you can wait out the time of divine revelation!)



Remember, we WILL be judged by the same measure we judge. Keep in mind-we ARE to be fruit inspectors, however. Fruit inspection is one way we should choose our friends. If the fruit of their lives is nasty we should not be going there. Judgement is harsh criticism that has no good purpose except to hurt the one being judged-it has no redeeming value whatsoever. Often, gossip is a part of judging others. There are fine lines in the sand sometimes between fruit inspection and judgement-lines we must heed. (Hint: don't let your prayer requests be gossip sessions-this is one way believers "justify" telling everyone they know about someone else's sin! Choose who you tell what with care, & watch how you tell it!)



Sarcasm can be a form of judgement. If we are sarcastic to or about someone it can reflect poorly on their character-but even more poorly on us! The next time you start to fire off a snide remark to someone or even under your breath-ask yourself if Christ would approve. Some folks think it is "funny" to put others down in front of friends or loved ones by making negative remarks about them. We all MUST be able & willing to laugh at ourselves but the way something is said makes all the difference. Lovingly joking & offensively joking are two very different things.



The Lord shows me things almost every day if I am paying attention, as I watch people interact out in public and as I watch news bytes about some senseless behavior. I am forever amazed at the rudeness, thoughtlessness, and self-absorption of the human nature. That is not the way the Lord taught us to be certainly. He taught us to always put others first & to not be so concerned with our desires that we fail to do the right thing. Sacrifice is not always "comfortable" but it is usually the correct avenue to take. I say "usually" as some folks have a misguided idea of "sacrifice" in that they give of themselves to the wrong people or places. The Word clearly outlines priorities & they have long been taught as God first, spouse next, then children, after that family, then friends etc. If we follow a logical order in our lives the outcome is much better.



"When I was a child I thought as I child..." We sometimes forget that we are now grown ups, and as believing grown ups we have a different standard to live by than children & nonbelievers. I think perhaps if we remembered this there would be less need to do that difficult thing-forgiving the believer! We would not see so many adult belivers acting like heathen children! Children have a smaller scope of perspective, & so it is with us grown ups when our view is so narrow it doesn't include grace towards those around us. (Think about that the next time someone cuts you off in traffic!) ;)