We may never become “best friends” with someone who used to be our enemy, but this simple little phrase is a reminder that it is not helpful to bear grudges. For our own sake, it is much better to forgive and to move forward with old hostilities laid to rest.
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Bearing grudges...
In my daily Bible reading in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, I’ve come to one of those parts that mostly contains prophecies of judgements against wicked nations. But this morning I was struck by one phrase that explained the reason for Edom’s being judged: Because you harboured an ancient hostility… (Ezek 35: 5) Edom was bearing a grudge and not putting an old hostility to rest. Verse 11 tells us that her attitude towards Israel was one of anger, jealousy and hatred, and that she would be judged by this same measure.
We may never become “best friends” with someone who used to be our enemy, but this simple little phrase is a reminder that it is not helpful to bear grudges. For our own sake, it is much better to forgive and to move forward with old hostilities laid to rest.
We may never become “best friends” with someone who used to be our enemy, but this simple little phrase is a reminder that it is not helpful to bear grudges. For our own sake, it is much better to forgive and to move forward with old hostilities laid to rest.
