At your service!
Posted on 08/20/2024 10:27:20 AM PDT by metmom
If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, you Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
Joseph was the pride and joy of his father. Though Jacob had ten other sons, he favored Joseph, the one born to him in his old age. Jacob never bothered to hide his special feelings—not even from his other sons. In fact, he expressed his favoritism blatantly and visibly by having an expensive coat made especially for Joseph.
This did not go unnoticed by the older brothers, and they began to resent their spoiled young sibling. Joseph, who was either oblivious to their resentment or insensitive to it, made it worse by bragging to his brothers about his dreams that he would one day rule over them. In one dream, his brothers' sheaves of grain bowed down to his. In another dream, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him.
Eventually, Joseph's vivid dreams and their father's favoritism so infuriated the brothers that they plotted Joseph's death. While trying to decide the best way to accomplish it, they spotted a caravan of spice traders on the way to Egypt. Instead of killing Joseph, they decided to sell him as a slave. They said good riddance to their dreaming brother and made up a story to tell their father about his favorite son's tragic fate.
(Excerpt) Read more at biblestudytools.com ...
Likewise, we never know the harm and damage we have done to others with our sin against them.
The effects of sin snowball and doesn't just remain with the person.
Wounding another person results in them wounding others out of their hurt. And so it goes, to the point where sin patterns in families are passed down through generations.
And it even goes beyond that.
Perhaps if we really stopped to contemplate the effect our sin could have we would be more inclined to not do it. And be more willing to forgive others who sin against us.
Would we really want others to forgive us as we forgive others???
Sorry for the late response...thanks for the explanation, it was helpful.
...and ‘good’ popes.
“to”?
Well...
New American Bible By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Douay-Rheims Bible No, I say to you: but unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.
...what should we expect?
See Ephesians 6:12. A far better quote for today.
At your service!
NOW we can have a discussion!
2 Chron 7:14
and if my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my presence and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and revive their land.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/AL.HTM
So - you are the RCC version of a KJV only Prot.
Why should any catholic listen to you?
After 12 years of a Catholic School education...whick I think was College level...I must admit I have limited knowledge of the Old Testament...The Bible.
Forgive me, but I, and we, can learn from It, but I cannot identify with some of it.
The New Testament, The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were what we were led to believe and I do.
I totally respect the Old Testament, but my Faith is in the NEW.
ABSOLUTELY NO OFFENSE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE.
You’re very welcome!
There is a final thought I should have added.
It is the “what now?” question.
“Now that I’ve forgiven, what if they go it again to me?”
Sometimes, we have difficulty forgiving because we’re stuck on the thought; “yeah, but they’ll just do it to me again”
Forgiveness and the “they’ll just do it again” concern are not connected. They are separate matters and one should not be and is not contingent upon the other.
Forgiveness does not guarantee resolution in relationships. It only guarantees a right relationship with God and inner peace.
A failed marriage due to infidelity may not be healed.
A relationship with a drug addled child who stole from the family, may not see immediate reconcilion.
While we are called to forgive and this act is healing for at least us, it may not solve the problem which initiated the pain.
The cheater may continue to cheat, the thief may continue to steal, the gossip may continue on with the malicious charge to slander and the abuser may continue being abusive. This is outside our ability to change. Only they can choose to change.
While we cannot change them, sometimes in order to protect ourselves from further harm, we must implement boundaries for ourselves. It’s important to note that protective boundaries are personal boundaries and intended for us alone. Boundaries are not and cannot be imposed upon others. These are sensible protective defensive barriers to shield us.
For instance, the thief may no longer be entitled to have a key to the house, the gossip is no longer given personal information, or may need to be excluded from your social circle, the abuser is no longer given access to your face as a punching bag, or your emotions to tear you down.
Forgiveness is the healing for ourselves and our relationships with God and one another.
Personal boundaries protect us from further harm.
They are separate matters.
Personal boundaries always begin with the pronoun “I” and never begin with “YOU”.
Examples may include;
“I choose not to be talked to rudely,or with insults”
“I choose not to socialize with those who gossip”
“I choose to secure my home from theft”
“I choose to avoid circumstances where another might strike me”
“I choose to guard my heart from the pain of infidelity by requiring the open accountability I deserve to see if trust can be rebuilt “
Forgiveness restores us to God and gives us inner peace and humility.
Boundaries keep us safe from harm.
More often than not, where forgiveness is required, personal boundaries are then often necessary.
Sometimes relationships are restored in this process and sometimes the offender chooses not to change and intimate personal relationships and friendships are lost.
I have, on too many occasions, had to tell another; “I wish only the very best for you. AND I also with the best for me.”
Both parts of that statement are truthful and loving to both parties. The second part hints at the kindness, love and safety I deserve and also the boundaries I created to protect myself.
Leave the results to God. He IS faithful!
We can merely do our own part.
“Walk with the wise and become wise (it just happens),
but a company of fools suffers harm (consequences)”
Proverbs 13:20
...boundaries
Thats all good stuff! Thanks for sharing.
Good morning!
The Good Theif on the Cross never had the chance to “ Do” Anything...
Suppose God Saves who he wants and How He Wants.
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