Jesus was very clear in the Bible about showing your other cheek when you get struck on one, but this is clearly not an easy task is it? When someone is mean to us or openly rude, our first reaction is a snappy comeback…well for those of us with less self-control at least, those of us who have a little more restraint will run home and get on your knees wailing to God about how that person needs to be taught a lesson! Sadly, I speak this from experience!
Although Jesus wanted for us to be forgiving by nature, what He really wants us to know is our potential as children of God to create situations in the spiritual world, the power that is in us to make a significant impact in the spiritual realm. He asks us to forgive, not only so that we can be forgiven but also because the other person’s forgiveness is tied to us. We see this in
John 20:23: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
So you see, if we don’t forgive someone who has wronged us, neither of you will be forgiven. That’s a bit hard isn’t it? What is important to know is that both of you have to forgive. It isn’t enough that you forgive the person who you believe has wronged you, but you need to make sure they have forgiven you as well!
This is clear from Matthew 5: 23-24: So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Wow! This one is heavy isn’t it? In other words, you cannot offer something to God without reconciling with the person who has something against you. What we offer the Lord will not be acceptable to Him unless we are at peace with everyone and have a clear conscience. Looks like I will have a few emails to send out asking for forgiveness……
If the other person is unwilling to forgive, Jesus gives the process to be followed in
Matthew 18: 15-18: "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Although in some cases today, in a secular environment, this may not be possible, the very fact that Jesus gives such an elaborate process through which to sort out strife between two people, it appears quite evident that this is fairly significant to Him and cannot be taken lightly. We may not be able to dray someone to church or call up witnesses, but it should be fairly easy to just go and apologize.
This is probably why many of our prayers remain unanswered, because of the unforgiveness that surrounds our lives. This is very likely case for me at least, through preparing this entry I have realized that there are people I need to get in touch with and clear the air. Although this would terribly affect my ego, it is a small price to pay if it is in obedience to what the Lord Jesus asks of us.
If you have people in your lives to whom who need to ask for forgiveness or clear the air with, then you must try and do this as soon as you can. We need this so that we can ourselves be forgiven and be at peace with the Lord.
I have a fairly simple recipe today, but it’s quite tasty and easy to make.
Ghee Rice
Ingredients:
Basmati Rice – 2 cups
Crushed Cardamom – 6 pods
Cinnamon – 6 one inch sticks
Cloves – 6
Bay leaves – 2
Ghee – 8 Tablespoons
Salt – as required
Pepper – as required
Turmeric powder – 1/4 teaspoon
Water – 3 cups
Raisins – 2 heaped tablespoons
Raw Cashew nuts – ¼ cup
Thinly sliced onion – ½
Chopped coriander leaves – 2 tablespoons
Instructions:
1.In a cooking pot with lid (preferably non-stick), heat 6 tablespoons of ghee, to this add bay leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and sauté.
2.Wash and drain the Basmati rice, then add this to ghee in the cooking pot, and stir fry the rice till the raw smell subsides (around 3 minutes).
3.Now add turmeric powder, salt and pepper as required, followed by 3 cups of water, stir well and close with lid.
4.In between, raise the lid to stir, but replace it firmly back in place. Keep checking to cook till all the water evaporates from the pot. However, once the water has evaporated, turn off the flame and keep the cooking pot tightly shut for another 20 minutes.
5.In a Kadai, heat two tablespoons of ghee, in this fry the chopped onions till deep brown and crispy, fry the cashews and raisins in this as well, till the raisins bloat up in the hot ghee. Once done, turn off the flame but leave the fried ingredients in the ghee.
6.In a serving dish, spoon in the cooked rice and garnish with the fried onions, cashews and raisins, pour in the excess ghee from the fried ingredients as well. Finally add coriander leaves to garnish and serve hot.
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