BUT EVEN IF THEY AREN’T HUMBLE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT. YOU CAN BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU AND PRAY THAT GOD CHANGES THEIR HEARTS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Hear me, please!!! I know it’s long but it is so important. Let it be your devotional today.

I awoke this morning from the most GRAPHIC DREAMS that I have ever had in my life. It shook me to the very core. In the dream, I was trying to correct someone for doing something that they shouldn’t do because it affected all of us that was with him. I pleaded, I begged, and I screamed to the top of my lungs to get him not to do what he was doing. But he kept on and by the grace of God none of us were injured.

But, to my surprise even after we survived when I went towards the person, he said to me, GET AWAY FROM ME, I HATE YOU. I saw that my trying to keep him doing what he was doing and killing him and us, UPSET HIM TO NO END. He was wrong!!! No question about it. But, I saw that my instruction hurt him, embarrassed him and offended him. Because I corrected him, screamed at him and begged him to stop IN FRONT OF THE OTHERS.

When I saw that I could not console him and he was literally ready to kill me. (Knife in hand). I begged him to forgive me. He was weeping with anger, I was weeping with remorse and wanting to heal him. I plead, I begged and I screamed to the top of my lungs with tears in my eyes to forgive me. Please forgive me. (BUT HE WOULDN’T). The pain was real to him and he held on to it.

I walked away dejected, in tears, crying out to God to change his heart towards me and the things I tried to share with him to save his life and those that were with him. His family and me his friend.

I awoke from the dream and I thought about all of the people I have offended while trying to saved them and their families, through my preaching and ministry. (How? By telling them the truth. Showing them the error of their way and trying to get them to turn around and go another direction.) They get offended because what I’m saying and the word goes against the route they want to take. It causes a rip in the relationship and puts me in a position to ask forgiveness for telling the truth. And still, after all of my efforts to ask forgiveness, to try and make it right, it’s too late, the relationship is irreparably broken. They pick up a knife and seek to kill at the first opportunity. Even if they don’t use it, they have it readily available, just in case they need it.

I opened the scriptures and found this words staring back at me.

2 Timothy 3:2-5 (NLT)
2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Not everyone has the ability to forgive you, put down the knife and accept your apology and respect the sincerity of your plea for forgiveness. That’s fine. The hurt is real.

BUT EVEN IF THEY AREN’T HUMBLE ENOUGH TO RECEIVE IT.

YOU CAN BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO ASK THEM TO FORGIVE YOU AND PRAY THAT GOD CHANGES THEIR HEARTS BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Here is what men should know. Jesus said:

Matthew 6:15
But if you do not forgive others [nurturing your hurt and anger with the result that it interferes with your relationship with God], then your Father will not forgive your trespasses when you ask Him to.

TO ANYONE NEAR OR FAR OR ANYONE IN BETWEEN THAT HAS BEEN OFFENDED BY MY WORD OR DEED DURING THE TENURE OF MY MINISTRY, TODAY I PLEAD, BEG AND SCREAM TO THE TOP OF MY LUNGS FOR YOU TO FORGIVE ME. I’M SORRY. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I MEAN IT. DROP THE KNIFE. IF YOU DON’T FORGIVE ANYONE THAT ASKS YOU TO FORGIVE THEM, GOD CANNOT FORGIVE YOU WHEN YOU ASK HIM TO.

I’m not saying that the hurt is not real to you. I am saying, Let it go!!!!! Accept the apology of those that ask. And then walk in love. Love endures all things.

1Cor. 13:4-7
4 Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, 5 never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. 6 It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. 7 If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
—Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin