Post by JEM on Nov 20, 2005 13:06:26 GMT
BEARING A GRUDGE OUR DAILY BREAD MAY 13th 2004
by Dennis De Haan
READ Genesis 27 v 35 - 41
The English essayist and critic Charles Lamb (1775-1834) declared this about a man he didn’t want to meet. “Don’t introduce me to that man. I want to go on hating him. and I can’t hate someone i know”
Harbouring malice, ill will, contempt, anger, robs us of close relationships with other people.
In the Old testament we read how Jacob cheated his brother Esau and stole the inheritance. Understandable Esau was angry. But what he did with his anger became a serious problem not only for Jacob but for Esau .
For years he harboured a deep resentment that robbed him of a warm relationship with his brother .
Grudges can also create a cold environment in Churches and this often keeps people away. A leaders has said if 6 people were to leave my Church there are about 40 who would probably join, who will not do so while the 6 remain
There used to be a deacon in a certain Church whose conduct at school as a teacher was very different to his attitude at Church.
One of his students attended one day with his granny, but the usual minister was absent. When he discovered it was his teacher entering the pulpit he said “while he’s here I will never come here again for his character is stained where he is a teacher, and here as a preacher he is nothing but a hypocrite.”
Pastor George Gardiner asked the congregation of a church he visited why their Church wasn’t growing. He received this reply “There’s an elder in this Church who holds a grudge”.
Instead of bearing a grudge, we must bare it before God in confession and ask for deliverance.
We must begin praying for the person towards whom we have negative feelings.
and, if possible, take practical steps to resolve our differences. We must find ways to show love.
Resentment will fade when the object of our ill will becomes the special object of our goodwill.
“When anger lingers in our heart,
it poisons all we think and do”
But faith seeks ways to show God’s love
and keeps our spirit strong and true”
A GRUDGE IS ONE THING THAT DOES NOT
GET BETTER WHEN IT IS NURSED
by Dennis De Haan
READ Genesis 27 v 35 - 41
The English essayist and critic Charles Lamb (1775-1834) declared this about a man he didn’t want to meet. “Don’t introduce me to that man. I want to go on hating him. and I can’t hate someone i know”
Harbouring malice, ill will, contempt, anger, robs us of close relationships with other people.
In the Old testament we read how Jacob cheated his brother Esau and stole the inheritance. Understandable Esau was angry. But what he did with his anger became a serious problem not only for Jacob but for Esau .
For years he harboured a deep resentment that robbed him of a warm relationship with his brother .
Grudges can also create a cold environment in Churches and this often keeps people away. A leaders has said if 6 people were to leave my Church there are about 40 who would probably join, who will not do so while the 6 remain
There used to be a deacon in a certain Church whose conduct at school as a teacher was very different to his attitude at Church.
One of his students attended one day with his granny, but the usual minister was absent. When he discovered it was his teacher entering the pulpit he said “while he’s here I will never come here again for his character is stained where he is a teacher, and here as a preacher he is nothing but a hypocrite.”
Pastor George Gardiner asked the congregation of a church he visited why their Church wasn’t growing. He received this reply “There’s an elder in this Church who holds a grudge”.
Instead of bearing a grudge, we must bare it before God in confession and ask for deliverance.
We must begin praying for the person towards whom we have negative feelings.
and, if possible, take practical steps to resolve our differences. We must find ways to show love.
Resentment will fade when the object of our ill will becomes the special object of our goodwill.
“When anger lingers in our heart,
it poisons all we think and do”
But faith seeks ways to show God’s love
and keeps our spirit strong and true”
A GRUDGE IS ONE THING THAT DOES NOT
GET BETTER WHEN IT IS NURSED