Today we read in Matthew 9:4-6, "But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, "Your sins are forgiven you," or to say, "Arise and walk?" But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins" -- then He said to the paralytic, "Arise, take up your bed and go to your house."
Everyone that saw this was overjoyed when Jesus healed the man. But they overlooked His significant ability to forgive sins. The power of forgiveness is emmeasurable. Jesus challenged us as His followers to forgive others who have wronged or hurt us. That mauy seem like a simple act, but anyone who has struggled with pain and anger knows that it take enormous power to authentically forgive--to lay aside one's hurt and reach out to an offender with the embrace of a pardon. On the other sied, forgiveness can release the wrongdoer from paralysig guilt and even turn around the course of that person's life. Forgivenss is as powerful and liberating as the healing of the paralytic. And its a power that Jesus has delegated to His followers.
From Proverbs 15:4 we read, "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit."
I can't help but think of someone that curses all the time and how much I despise that. It just gets old after a while. But someone that always speaks encouragingly, speaks with affirmations, and with postive attitudes, that's always someone I want to hear from. It speaks of life and draws me toward it. I shrink away from the opposite.
Blessings to all
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