Forgiveness Not Bitterness
So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “You are blessed of the Lord, for you have shown this kindness to your lord, to Saul, and have buried him.” - 2 Samuel 2:5
This blows my mind. David did not hate Saul. He had no bitterness against him. Saul hated David and tried to kill him every single time, but David decided to not hate Saul. When he was right next to Saul and his armor bearer said, “Let me kill him now,” David said, “How can we touch the Lord’s anointed?” David did not allow Saul’s hatred toward him to cause bitterness in his own heart. He chose to love and forgive Saul.
Each one of us is the Lord’s anointed. We have to remember that because when you speak against me or I speak against you, I am speaking against the Lord’s anointed. We have to be so careful, because God will not use our lives if we come against His chosen.
I want God to use my life. I do not want it to be a hindrance to what God wants to do with my life. God used David greatly because he chose forgiveness over bitterness. Bitterness will only harden our hearts. How can God use my life when I am bitter, when I am supposed to be loving, kind and forgiving?
I know it is hard to love and forgive those who come against us. I am telling you because it is hard for me. I am being honest with you. It is the hardest thing for me not to get bitter and to forgive people, but if I want to continue to be used by God I have to do it. I have to do it just like David did with Saul. I am not going to touch the Lord’s anointed.”
If you are suffering from a bad man’s injustice, forgive him lest there be two bad men.
~Augustine~
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