Not to hate is a challenge that few have met. We see it in Joseph, who forgave his brothers after they sold him into slavery. (Genesis 50: 15 - 21) Admittedly, his brothers repented for that act, but Joseph still forgave them, even pointing to his place as compared to God's (with the inference that God was the only one who could claim innocence - remember, Joseph had brought a bad report about his brothers.) We also see it in Moses, when he prays that God would blot his name out of the book of Life, for the sake of God's people remaining in it (Even though the Israelites threatened to stone him on more than one occasion), but God did not accept that offer. Getting in good with God is also a challenge, because our sin separates us from Him. The best descriptions I have seen of this are in Psalms 51 and Isaiah 52:12 - 53. Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant who suffered for all ( Isaiah describes this as a future event) - and Ps. 22 gives a pointed view of the rest of what the suffering servant went through.)
(If you would like, I will describe more about this .)
This comes as our fellow pede's rabbi describes- recognizing that anger is like idolatry when it is not dealt with . (or as another who was once called Rabbi taught, when you are angry, you are tempted to sin)- Jesus said: He who is angry with his brother (and good Samaritan parable makes clear all people are to be treated as our brothers and sisters) sets himself up for a tragic end. Even Jesus himself was angry, but the times He showed it were because of injustice toward others and the disdain for God's house, and he kept that anger under control.
One of the best ways to deal with the anger is to remember that we have been forgiven a great debt, as Jesus describes in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.- one that we are unable to pay on our own. We were, as Scripture describes it: enemies of God. Jesus came to both pay for our sin and restore our relationship to God. We forgive when we recognize that we are forgiven a great sum that we could never pay:
I find myself thinking 'forgive them for they know not what they've done'. A lot these days. What I have needed to forgive is embarrassing in comparison.
I used to mock people with the WWJD (what would Jesus do) bracelets. It was such foreign and weird thing to my much (much) younger self. And now those simple letters give me so much strength, direction and comfort.
No, you're right. It's an exceedingly hard challenge. Last time I re-read (Carefully) the text with Joseph and his brothers it was amazing how many times he had to reassure them he wasn't holding a grudge. He made a good show at the revelation but even after that, they were worried. "After we bring back Jacob he will let the hammer down. After Jacob dies, he'll get his revenge on us." They were worried to the end. Maybe rightfully so.
It could be the challenge I described of not getting anger is one of the hardest ones a person can achieve. But it's still in there. G-d knows, anger has been a hard enough problem for me.
Not to hate is a challenge that few have met. We see it in Joseph, who forgave his brothers after they sold him into slavery. (Genesis 50: 15 - 21) Admittedly, his brothers repented for that act, but Joseph still forgave them, even pointing to his place as compared to God's (with the inference that God was the only one who could claim innocence - remember, Joseph had brought a bad report about his brothers.) We also see it in Moses, when he prays that God would blot his name out of the book of Life, for the sake of God's people remaining in it (Even though the Israelites threatened to stone him on more than one occasion), but God did not accept that offer. Getting in good with God is also a challenge, because our sin separates us from Him. The best descriptions I have seen of this are in Psalms 51 and Isaiah 52:12 - 53. Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant who suffered for all ( Isaiah describes this as a future event) - and Ps. 22 gives a pointed view of the rest of what the suffering servant went through.)
(If you would like, I will describe more about this .)
More please, I struggle with forgiveness at times.
I do forgive but I always can learn more.... forgiveness is a way of life
This comes as our fellow pede's rabbi describes- recognizing that anger is like idolatry when it is not dealt with . (or as another who was once called Rabbi taught, when you are angry, you are tempted to sin)- Jesus said: He who is angry with his brother (and good Samaritan parable makes clear all people are to be treated as our brothers and sisters) sets himself up for a tragic end. Even Jesus himself was angry, but the times He showed it were because of injustice toward others and the disdain for God's house, and he kept that anger under control.
One of the best ways to deal with the anger is to remember that we have been forgiven a great debt, as Jesus describes in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant.- one that we are unable to pay on our own. We were, as Scripture describes it: enemies of God. Jesus came to both pay for our sin and restore our relationship to God. We forgive when we recognize that we are forgiven a great sum that we could never pay:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/dealing-with-difficult-problems/forgiveness
There is some great advice here: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-terms/what-is-forgiveness-being-forgiven-forgiving-others-forgiving-yourself.html
Thank you, and God Bless you
I find myself thinking 'forgive them for they know not what they've done'. A lot these days. What I have needed to forgive is embarrassing in comparison.
I used to mock people with the WWJD (what would Jesus do) bracelets. It was such foreign and weird thing to my much (much) younger self. And now those simple letters give me so much strength, direction and comfort.
No, you're right. It's an exceedingly hard challenge. Last time I re-read (Carefully) the text with Joseph and his brothers it was amazing how many times he had to reassure them he wasn't holding a grudge. He made a good show at the revelation but even after that, they were worried. "After we bring back Jacob he will let the hammer down. After Jacob dies, he'll get his revenge on us." They were worried to the end. Maybe rightfully so.
It could be the challenge I described of not getting anger is one of the hardest ones a person can achieve. But it's still in there. G-d knows, anger has been a hard enough problem for me.
I hate evil, it's allowed by God and even required.
I agree! We are to hate sin- especially when we see it in ourselves!