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The High Road

    When someone wrongs you it's easy to hold a grudge. We feel justified in holding things against others when we feel they deserve it. We see people losing our trust and think it's okay to not let them inside our lives anymore. All these things are how the world tells us we should live our lives, but not what Jesus tells us.

     Jesus tells us to take the hard road-- the high road, if you will. We are called to love those who wrong us just like He loves us when we wrong Him. Why do we think that we have the right to judge others and not give them our forgiveness when we have been forgiven of so much? Jesus died for our sins, yet we cannot even forgive our brothers and sisters of one wrongdoing against us?

    I challenge you to do what Jesus would do and to forgive others, over and over again. Love them even when you feel they are least worthy of love. When it's hard to do, remember all that you've been forgiven and the love that Jesus has lavished upon you and give that back to those around you.

Matthew 5:43-44 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (NIV)

Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received; freely give. (NIV)

Ephesians 4:22 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (ESV)

Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (ESV)

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven." (ESV)

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