Wow what a week. I have only just begun to absorb so much of what we took away from the Quantum Tribe conference. So much revelation — it’s going to take a while to process it all.
One of the first things that comes to mind however, is our perspective of our fellow believers. It is so easy to judge people by who they used to be. We remember the mistakes they made, the shortcomings they had, the uncultivated undeveloped character they manifested back then.
But when it comes to ourselves? Well that’s a different matter. We are kinder to ourselves than we are to other people. Because we judge ourselves not by who we were — but by who we have become. We incorporate our own transformation into the perspective of how we see ourselves. Unfortunately, we don’t have to do that for other people who have hurt us, offended us and even damaged us in the past. But just like we grow, they’ve grown too. And just like we’ve changed, they’ve changed to.
It takes an emotionally intelligent mature human being to recognize that we are all in the process of becoming. Some of us have more help in the process than others. Some of us have shorter pathways to changing for the better than others.
But regardless of who we need to become, we will have to have God’s help to do it. It takes Grace to change for the better. It takes big doses of God’s power and presence working in us. It takes Grace to change into the image and likeness of Christ.
God is challenging us all to be mature sons. He is activating a relationship revival. He is challenging his kingdom to stop holding a persons past performance against them. They are not who they were. That person in the past is long gone. And the mistakes they made because of the limited knowledge they had back then — is gone to. In their place is a person who is usually doing the best they can with what they know — today.
So forgive them of their past performance. See people for who they are today. Be willing to afford them the same forgiveness that God has extended to you. Because if you don’t forgive them for who they were, how can God forgive you for who you are?
Psalm 86:5 (NKJV)
For You, Lord, [are] good, and ready to forgive, And abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.
Jeremiah 31:34 (NKJV)
“No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”
Matthew 6:12 (NKJV)
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:14 (NKJV)
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 (NKJV)
“But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 (NKJV)
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
Luke 6:37 (NKJV)
“Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Luke 11:4 (NKJV)
And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”