Lesson 3 - Choosing Truth

The TRUTH is that we are to make every effort to be at peace with others (Hebrews 12:14, 13:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15), and this can not be done without the Lord's help! Let's read the following passages, in several different versions, if at all possible, and then write out how the Lord has spoken them into your heart as to "how" we are to live:

Ephesians 4:31-32

Hebrews 13:1

1 Thessalonians 5:12-15

Mark 11:25

Hebrews 12:14

Matthew 18:21-22

[*] True forgiveness brings the divided persons back into the place where each person's feelings and viewpoints can be heard and understood by the other and harmony reestablished. That a whole different style of relationship is possible is clearly shown by Ephesians 4:31-32.That new 'style of relationship' is developed as we walk as imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1-2). God forgave us ALL OUR SINS through His Son's death on Calvary! We are to imitate Him! This is the TRUTH we are to live in; however, humanly, it is an impossible thing, as we base our forgiveness on "feelings", "circumstances", etc. We need to re-learn what forgiveness truly is:

. . . a choice (to follow in the footsteps of our Savior)

. . . an act of obedience (to forgive as God, in Christ, has forgiven us & to be at peace with one another)

Write out Ephesians 4:25-5:2 in your own words, how it speaks to you.







Now, let's take an HONEST REFLECTION of our heart and answer the following questions:

1. If I have not forgiven someone, and yet I remain "friendly" with them, is that coming in line with Ephesians 4:25? Am I really being honest? Truthful?

2. If I do not forgive, and allow myself to hold a grudge against someone, what am I doing, based upon Ephesians 4:27?

3. If I do not forgive, based upon Mark 11:25, what may happen when I ask the Lord to forgive me?

4. What does the Lord's prayer say to me about forgiving?

Dear ones, forgiveness is one of the hardest things for us to learn to do! Yet when we do, we learn that it is the most freeing thing in our lives!