Making peace with the past…

Is there Biblical precedence for a person having a sickness or some other ailment, including a physical disorder, as a result of harboring unforgiveness, resentments, bitterness or ill will towards others. Yes, the Bible does teach that in some instances our physical and emotional well-being can very well reflect our inward state of being. Just like a tree we grow from the inside out. If the tree is not healthy on the inside it will reflect on the whole of the tree. So it is with us.

This is why the sage said,

“My son, give attention to my words; incline your heart to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their body. Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the SPRINGS (outgoings) of life.“ (Pro4:20-23)

The Hebrew word for ‘springs’ is the word ‘tosaah.’ This is a geographical word. It speaks both of a boundary and of a source. Its reflective meaning addresses ‘goings forth’ or ‘outgoings.’ The point is that what we have in our hearts will determine the boundaries or the outgoing of our own life. Thus we give shape to our own life by what is in our own heart.

David draws attention to this with regard to the man who refuses to bless others, but only curses. Listen carefully:

“Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness…

“,,,he also loved cursing, so it came to him; and he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him.

“But he clothed himself with cursings as with his garment, and it entered into his body like water and like oil into his bones. It came to him as a garment which he covers himself…” (Psalm 109:16-19)

The New Testament addresses bitterness in the same category as immorality. Notice Hebrews 12:14-16;

“Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.”

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The peace of God’s kingdom.

Pursuing peace addresses the peace of God’s kingdom. We are to be makers of peace when it is in our power to do so.

It is our purpose to bring ‘living water’ to those around us. These waters speak of the message of the cross. It is James who draws attention to this area of our not being able to share the gospel properly because of a mixed message.

“With it [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?”

(Jas 3:9-11 NASB)

Lets continue with the understanding on how bitterness may affect us today. I did not read the earlier statement about how bitterness can create an excessive burden in a believer’s life, and how that bitterness may even result in a discipline of the Lord.

Note the preceding Scriptures:

“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful …. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.” (vv12,13)

This is metaphoric language. Yet it calls attention to some of the burdens than can weigh a believer down as a result of unforgiveness and resentments. Is it not possible that some of our physical ailments are a result of the bitterness we carry? Is it also possible that some of our health issues can be the result of a connective measure from the Lord? These are things to consider.

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Both Paul and Peter speak to this.

Let’s tie some Scriptures together:

[Paul] “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.” — The background for this is the Lord’s table, but its directive is to those who were resentful of others. The sicknesses in this  case are punitive or corrective judgments from the Lord. — 1Co11:22-34.

[Peter] “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” (1Pe2:1,2)

We don’t always catch what Peter is saying. Where Peter speaks of the ‘pure milk’ of the word, he is speaking of milk that has not been adulterated by bitterness and other such things.

As a country boy I can give an example of what pure milk is not. In the south we have what is called bitter weeds. A cow will sometimes make these weeds part of her diet. If you drink milk from a cow who had eaten bitter weeds, believe me, you will spew the milk out of your mouth as quick as you can. The milk is filled with bitterness. And yet the milk itself looked perfectly good.

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Failure to make peace with the past.

This is where bitterness can become a defiling thing in our life. Most bitterness is a result of not having forgiven someone. We carry the unforgiveness in our heart. It is not a matter of whether the person deserves forgiveness, or even if they have asked for forgiveness. It is a matter of keepings one’s own spiritual life pure.

We have a perfect example to follow from the cross. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them. For they don’t know what they are doing.”

We also hear this with the first Christian martyr. Stephen said, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” In neither case were the peoples asking for forgiveness.

When Jesus said, “Father, forgive them,” was this not the message of the cross? Are we not forgiven on the basis of a life exchange with Jesus? Jesus gave His life up for us. Are we not to learn to live in this flow of forgiveness? Are we not to forgive?

What many don’t realize is that unforgiveness is a sin. Why so? It is a sin because we are under commandment to forgive. We are also under commandment to walk in love the way Jesus walked. The Lord pointed out that a powerful faith walk revolves around forgiveness. He said,

“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.” (Mark 11:25)

And so it may well be that the most crucial matter in a believer’s life is in coming to grips with the past. Until we learn to make peace with the past, we will suffer in the now. Are you free from the past? Is there something you need to let go?

“How to I get started?”

The way to get started is …

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Identify with Jesus.

What does identifying with Jesus mean? John said, “Greater is He who is in you and he who is in the world.”

That isn’t a hard issue to solved. How did Jesus conduct Himself in the gospels. He loved and He forgave. What should we do? Love and forgive. Jesus forgave all our sins, past, present, and future. How can we do otherwise. In fact if we learn to forgive quickly, it gives us the power to jerk the rug out from under the enemy. He will have nothing to work with.

And since the greater One lives in us, Paul give us how all this works. Listen and learn:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Gal 2:20 NASB)

Much love to be found in Jesus,

In Christ always,

Buddy