Daily Devotional

What exactly is a grudge? It is to grumble or murmur against a thing, to entertain an envious or covetous feeling or, as Websters Dictionary defines it, "secret enmity; hatred."

The Bible teaches us to love those who hate us, who do evil against us. Yet it is alarming to note how many Christians hold secret hatred and enmity against their own family because their family has wronged them, or against other people.

How much like Jesus do you want to be? I love His words, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." When they arrested Jesus, surely they knew what they were doing? When they beat Him, and spat upon Him and put a crown of thorns upon His head, did they not know what they were doing? When they crucified Him and pierced a spear into His side, did they still not know what they were doing?

And yet Jesus looked beyond all of this. "Father, forgive them." How easy it would have been for Jesus to keep a grudge against them and say, "Well, lets see who laughs last today." But He did not. He went to the cross and He forgave every person that wronged Him. Can you do that?

When people steal from you and lie to you, when they demand too much from you, when they hurt you and disappoint you ... can you say, "Father, forgive them?" Or do you hold onto that hurt and pain and develop a secret enmity within you? Are you able to love somebody that has wronged you? Do you have the love of Christ in you to look at the murderer and the child molester and the kidnapper and say, "Jesus loves you?"

Yes, some things will not be forgotten, but it is your approach and your attitude to the situation that will determine your growth potential in the LORD. Hold onto grudges and yes, it is indeed heavy enough to keep you from moving forward in the Kingdom of God.