Proverbs 26:8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honour to a fool.
What good is a stone in his sling that will not come out? It’s like a person who goes to battle with his weapon and no ammunition. What if I were to tell you that I knew of something that cost nothing and is worth millions? At the same time was available to everyone and used by few. Would you be interested in knowing what it was? Abraham Lincoln, one of my all time hero’s said this. “Forgiveness is a secret that is hidden in plain sight. It costs nothing and is worth millions. It is available to everyone and used by few. If you harness the power of forgiveness, you will be sought after and regarded highly. And not coincidentally, you will also be forgiven by others!” When I read that my mind went quickly to Matthew chapter 18 of the King taking account of his servants and finding out that one owed him an enormous amount of money and didn’t have the resources to repay the amount. The King then clears his entire amount to nothing. What a wonderful blessing. What is interesting to me is that this same servant goes to one that owes him an amount that is payable but at the moment can’t pay. The forgiven servant gets angry and puts his friend in prison. Word got back to the King who calls for his servant and reminds him that he was forgiven of an amount that he could never repay. He then tells him that when he had opportunity to forgive another he refused. I am afraid that hits home too many times. I must ask myself “have I been forgiven by my heavenly Father of all and do I refuse to forgive those that have wronged me? Do I hold grudges, do I refuse to forgive? Oh, wait, if those who have wronged me would come and ask for me to forgive them I would. Let me say that forgiveness is not an emotion it’s a decision. Have you ever been trying to fall asleep and suddenly your peacefulness is interrupted by remembering what someone has done to you. Do you replay that event over and over in your mind, thinking that you should have just knocked his lights out when you had the opportunity? That’s right think like a boy forgetting you are now 45 or so years old. You have consumed yourself with that kind of thinking in the middle of the night while that person is home in bed getting a good night’s rest. Would you forgive that person if they would come and ask or even beg for your forgiveness? The sling is the power to forgive and the stone is the forgiveness that you have bound in the sling. Tomorrow I’ll write on the Miracle of forgiveness; letting the stone go.
