"Be even-tempered, content with
second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as
the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love." (Col
3:13-14 The Message)
The highlight of our New Zealand trip was cancelled!
The winds around Mount Cook were too turbulent and all air transport had been
annulled. There wouldn't be a helicopter ride over Mount Cook, we wouldn't be
able to land on top of the tallest mountain in New Zealand, and we wouldn't be
able to admire pristine views
from the top!
A few years ago I would have been so mad that smoke
would have streamed from my ears. Literally (I know, I would have made a fortune
at the circus, but believe me, it's not worth it)! I mean, a trip of a life time
cancelled by inclement weather! Come on! Unforgiveness would have fostered in my
heart and I would have made anyone around me miserable.
To be honest though, I would have been the most
wretched of all, as the snares of unforgiveness robs us not only of vitality,
but also of our real purpose for living. If unforgiveness haunts our souls, we
can forget about victorious living! It's impossible for the two to go together!
"And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember
that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive - only
then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of
sins." (Mark 11:25 The Message)
This time however, instead of getting mad and becoming
unforgiving, I decided that God had better plans for us. And He did! We explored
our surroundings by foot and discovered pristine scenes with Mount Cook in the
background, scenes we would have missed had I been puffed up with my hurt ego!
And once we arrived on the northern island, we
discovered a helicopter ride to White Island, the most active volcano island in
the Southern hemisphere! It was an out-of-this-world experience, one we wouldn't
have been able to afford if we had
taken
the Mount Cook tour!
Unforgiveness is unhealthy. It eats us up from the
inside out and defeats us from ever experiencing inner peace, happiness and
victory. By forgiving, we are not only letting go of past offences, but we are
liberating ourselves from a vicious prison called self-pity.
I recently found an old prison building in the
community of Port Dalhousie in Ontario. The old building that once held its
prisoners captive, preventing their escape, has now been transformed into an
ice-cream parlor, its doors open wide to anyone
in need of refreshment from the heat. Gone is the anger, and instead it had
become a place of relief and celebration.
"They've cancelled my Mastercard!"
So what, let's enjoy what God has given us. There is
so much we can be thankful for!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.