Text – Ephesians 4:26- “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath”
For some days, we have been talking about the subject of forgiveness, and the different terms we must understand in contrast to forgiveness. We have talked in previous days about hurt and doubt. Today, we will talk about Caution and Restoration.
3. CAUTION
Caution refers to precept or warning against evil or danger of any kind; such as, exhortation to wariness; advice; injunction and the likes. There are 2 types of caution – Internal & External Caution.
Internal caution has to do with you, and manifests usually as doubts, while external caution is caution when it pertains to others. Neither of the two is a sign of unforgiveness.
Take for example, you find out that a man who was grossly unfaithful in your past relationship, and eventually jilted you is asking for your friend’s hand in marriage, it is not wrong to pre-inform/warn your friend about him. That's neither blackmail nor an indication of unforgiveness, it's called caution and it's not sinful. In fact refusal to warn your friend would be wickedness on your part, and that is a sin!
I am not saying you should go about telling everybody what someone else did to offend you in the past, but you must be wise enough to know when it’s necessary to caution people around you about an offender based on your past experiences with them.
4. RESTORATION
Restoration is the action of returning something to a former place, or condition. Truly, people can make mistakes, but we must be willing to allow them stage a come-back. When someone hurts or offends you, don't make a permanent conclusion on them based on their mistakes; give them the benefit of doubt, and give them the opportunity to win your trust again, especially if the person was an unbeliever, but is now a believer.
Let's take a cue from the story of Paul as recorded in Acts 9:26-28. (The comments in bracket are mine) "And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him (THIS IS CAUTION), and believed not that he was a disciple (THIS IS DOUBT). But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus (HE WON THEIR TRUST). And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. (THIS IS RESTORATION)"
Just as the disciples received Paul with open arms... after he was proven worthy of their trust, we must be gracious enough to give our offenders the chance to stage a come-back! May the lord help us in Jesus’ Name. Amen
PRAYERS
1. Father, please give the grace to maintain a forgiving spirit at all times in Jesus Name.
2. Father, please give me the wisdom to know when it’s necessary to caution people around you about an offender based on my past experiences with them.
3. Lord, please give me a gracious heart that will not shut the door of restoration against people that have offended me.
Image Credit: hopefortheheart.org