"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Holding Grudges

By Shane Kastler

Let's face the facts: experiencing hurt is a part of life. At one time or another everyone has felt the sting of being wronged, slighted, or scarred. Physical pain is bad enough, but the emotional turmoil of being hurt can often be even worse. You have been wronged. You have also wronged others. The first we readily accept, but the second we often fail to see.

Very rarely are disagreements 100 percent the fault of one party. Typically there is plenty of blame on both sides of an argument. Even if you didn't start the fight, you might not have responded in the way you should have. Regardless of who is to blame, turmoil means the absence of peace in your life. And peace is what we should long for. Peace with God and peace with each other. This is especially true for the “household of God.”

Simon Peter once asked Jesus how often he should forgive his brother who has wronged him. Peter no doubt thought it would be remarkable of him to forgive “up to seven times.” When you think about it, by the seventh time you might get a little tired of being wronged. But Jesus gave Peter (and us) a response that far exceeded what Peter thought was benevolent. Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:22)

The obvious point Jesus was making was not that we limit forgiveness to 490 times. But rather, that forgiveness is an ongoing reality for the Christian. Think about how many times you have sinned against the Lord! In truth, your very nature is sinful; so that even what you perceive to be “good” isn't typically done in the right motivation. Your sin against God is infinite. Yet through Jesus Christ, your forgiveness is equally infinite. And if God has forgiven you; then why should you withhold forgiveness from another?

But what if they don't want your forgiveness? For your own peace of mind, forgive them anyway. Harboring bitterness does very little to the one who hurt you; but the bitterness can destroy you. There is simply no place in a Christian's life for holding a grudge. It is immature. It is not Christlike. And it does not glorify God.

Do you need to forgive someone today? Do you need to leave the past in the past? Take heart that the Lord can give you the gracious heart you need to love and forgive others. Never forget that you have been forgiven. Now go and do likewise.

Christ Came For Sinners

By Shane Kastler

All people are sinners and most of them know that. Some might argue that they are basically “good” but deep down people are aware of the fact that they are not perfectly good. We all fall short. We all disobey God. We all sin. The question is not whether or not you sin. The question is whether or not you are bothered by that fact. Those who know Jesus Christ in a saving way, experience conviction over sin in their life. This means that rather than embracing sin as “no big deal” a true Christian will be grieved by the reality of sin in their life. And they will long to be free from it and know something of the holiness that God alone can provide.

Unbelievers can come out of a life of sin as well. Every Christian on the planet used to be a non-Christian. Since we are all born “dead in our trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) we must come to a place in life where the Holy Spirit grants spiritual life. A time when we turn from sin in repentance and trust in Christ alone, committing our life to Him. Have you experienced that?

There are some unbelievers in this world who think they are too bad to be saved. There are others who think they are too good to be lost. The Bible would give the first group hope. The first step in knowing Christ as the solution to your biggest problem is to realize that you have a really big problem. And that problem is sin. The Bible says, “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15) Are you a sinner? Then rejoice that there can be forgiveness if you will turn to Christ. The famous reformer Martin Luther once said that when Satan attacked him and reminded him of his sin, that he was encouraged because he knew that Christ came to save sinners.

Sadly, some people in this world think they are too good to be lost. These people are deceived into thinking God will accept them based on their merit. But truly, they have no merit. For all are sinners. The only hope for them is that the Holy Spirit of God will open their eyes to the reality of their sin.

If you think you're too good to be lost, I would encourage you to reconsider. If you know you are a lost sinner, I would encourage you to flee to Christ. Leave the sin behind and walk forever with the Savior. Take courage and take heart in knowing this: He came to save sinners.