Just a Thought: Holding a grudge not only does more to harm you. It also hurt’s God’s reputation. This is why The Lord forbids this among His people. The Lord laid out laws that would govern how His people would live and act with one another. He did this because His people were to represent Him. They were to be direct reflections of His nature and reveal to others who He was. Now our God is just and holy. He will make wrongs right in His time and His way. And frankly it is to be our trust in this truth that allows us to let go of grudges. We know that all men will have to answer to God for what they do so we don’t have to worry about making sure they pay. Our focus is not exact revenge. Our job is to love one another and even our enemies and leave the justice thing to the Lord (Isa. 61:8a). This does not mean we are not to have laws, live by the law and use courts. What it means is that when we are done wrong, we are not to hold a grudge. Listen to the Lord’s instruction. “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” (Lev 19:18) God doesn’t hold grudges. He shows great mercy. He is longsuffering. He is patient and kind. He even shows more grace (to us) and others than we deserve. Of course, grace is undeserved favor. But, in the end He will judge all things and make right the wrongs, and He doesn’t need us to do His job. So, when we hold a grudge, it just hurts us. We suffer the anger; we suffer the anxiety. We suffer from the emotional, (sometimes physical) and always the spiritual harm that comes from holding a grudge. But, more than all of that, we harm God’s reputation. Because as His children, we are called upon to walk like Him, look like Him and represent Him as He is. And any time we don’t do this, we are hurting His reputation before man. So, holding a grudge not only does more to harm you. It also hurt’s God’s reputation. This is not what we want to do. So, let go of your grudges and give them to the Lord. With confidence trust Him to make all the wrongs right in His way and in His time. And thank Him for His grace and mercy toward you. Then, thank the Lord for the opportunity to represent Him before all men and ask Him to empower you with His love for others so that we can represent Him well. Thank you Lord, You have chosen and trusted me to represent You before all men. Help me to do this well! In Jesus name, amen.
