~ "Biting off more than you can chew..."

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. (Gal 5:14-15)

When is it time to stop? We destroy people with our words every day, whether we realize it or not. People hurt because we refuse to forgive, refuse to yield, refuse to accept and refuse to understand. People are human (duh) and therefore make mistakes! I'm grateful that we serve a forgiving God, otherwise, I'd be doomed!

When we refuse to forgive someone, we cut ourselves off from blessings that might come from loving that person. We sometimes have to look beyond the fabled expressions of our youth and go with the faith that God can change anyone! Our stubbornness and unwillingness to change causes us to remain stagnant in our faith. The gossip and backbiting that we engage in only serves to push us away from Christ. He certainly was not one to gossip, nor did he reach into his tote and say "sorry, all out of forgiveness today". He saw the good in everyone and anyone who asked was forgiven and received the opportunity to walk with his head held high.

God's love changes people. It makes them whole again. We are told to forgive and forget! We are told that we are not to hold past sins against one another forever. We are told to love one another as Christ loved us! Strength comes through prayer. Let go of that one hurt that keeps you from forgiving. Lay it at the feet of Jesus and ask him to help you to forgive those you need to forgive and ask him to help those who need to forgive you!