ministry of reconciliation Archives | Christian Learning & News

God has given us the grace to forgive the people who have hurt us. When we choose to forgive, we release people from holding us back, and we step into freedom. Forgiveness breaks the chains of bitterness.

Joyce Meyer Preaches On Forgiveness

If you’ve been around Christian circles, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of Joyce Meyer and Joyce Meyer Ministries. Joyce has an incredible testimony of forgiveness and overcoming suffering. On their website it says, “Joyce Meyer Ministries is called to share the Gospel and extend the love of Christ. Through media we teach people how to apply biblical truth to every aspect of their lives and encourage God’s people to serve the world around them.”

In a recent message, Joyce wanted to get the message across that, “The most important thing for us to focus on is love.” We must love people with a pure heart. She says one of the most beautiful aspects of love is that we have been given the grace of God to forgive people. “The people that you need to forgive may not deserve your forgiveness. We don’t deserve God’s forgiveness.” She became a better person because God gave her the grace to forgive her parents. Joyce’s testimony equips people to walk in the same love and forgiveness.

God Gives Us The Grace To Forgive

Whenever we need answers from the Bible, we should remember that Jesus Himself is the Word. He is the Word who became flesh (John 1:14). Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father. We had gone astray, not deserving forgiveness, but the Father so loved the world that He wanted us to come back to Him. He gave us everything that was precious to Him just to have us back, if we so choose.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19, ^“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

If we have been forgiven and reconciled to the Father, we ought to forgive others. Imagine forgiving someone who doesn’t deserve it, and in that act of love they encounter the God who wants to forgive them, too. Forgiveness sets people free.

If we can remember how much we have been forgiven, we can extend forgiveness to people even when we don’t feel like it. We receive the power to do so by spending time in the presence of God. He purifies us. With a pure heart and clean hands, we can be in His presence, and we take His yoke upon us. He promised that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30).

Here’s a key from 1 Timothy 1:5: “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Love includes forgiveness.

Application

But what if we forgive and the person doesn’t change? That’s probably what holds us back the most from forgiving people. We need God’s help. This is not a battle to be won without The Holy Spirit. We cannot do it in our own strength. God has given us the grace to forgive the people who have hurt us. He is the Author of forgiveness.

Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

How many times have we done the same thing when we knew it was wrong, and we asked for forgiveness? Or how may times has the same person hurt us?

Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.'”

Forgiveness does not mean that we keep abusive people in our lives and allow them to keep hurting us. It doesn’t give people a free pass to keep behaving in a way that is damaging. Sometimes forgiveness is a choice that we make before God and we settle it within our own hearts. You may even need to forgive someone who isn’t alive anymore.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for reconciling us to the Father. Help us to forgive today, and show us how we can extend love to others and not regard them according to the flesh. We choose your way today. Set us free from bitterness and resentment. We receive your love and ask that you would empower us to love others. Amen.

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Watch more from Joyce Meyer Ministries on GOD TV here

What Does the Bible Say?

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

In the tapestry of your life, relationships hold a significant place. They can bring immense joy and fulfillment, but they can also be filled with pain and brokenness. Yet, even in the hardest of relationships, you are called to be an agent of reconciliation, actively pursuing healing and restoration in your relationships.

Reconciliation begins with a willingness to address the brokenness and acknowledge the pain that exists. It requires humility and vulnerability as you approach those you have wounded or who have wounded you. Jesus Himself taught the significance of seeking reconciliation, stating in Matthew 5:23-24, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Your pursuit of reconciliation takes precedence even over your acts of worship, highlighting its paramount importance.

Forgiveness plays a crucial role in the process of reconciliation. Colossians 3:13 encourages, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When you extend forgiveness, you release the burden of resentment and open the door to restoration.

However, reconciliation is a process that requires patience, perseverance, and trust in God’s timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reassures us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” We must trust that God is working in the hearts of both parties, bringing healing and growth in His perfect timing.

As you embark on the journey of reconciliation, remember that you are not alone. God Himself is the ultimate reconciler, guiding you through the process and bringing restoration to your relationships.