Craig Clouston

 Wounded in Battle

March 24

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Colossians 3:13

Kim knew Toby was furious, so she kept silent for the moment.

“That really ticks me off!” he proclaimed as he climbed in the car. “I’ve half a mind to go back there and … ” He let his words trail off.

Toby was responding like most of us have when we’ve been wounded by a brother or sister in Christ; he’d smiled on the outside, saying it’s no big deal while a fire smoldered inside, kindling resentment and threatening to choke out all reason.

His countenance was anything but spiritual. But the farther he got from the moment, the clearer he heard God’s voice. 

“Do you think I missed what happened? I know how much what Tim did hurt you.” Then he felt God ask, “Who would benefit from you responding in anger? Your battle is not against Tim.” 

He knew this was true, but the wound was so fresh that he didn’t want to accept it. 

“You can refuse to follow Satan’s plan,” God said. “Have you never been guilty of doing what was done to you?” God asked. 

Ouch, that hurts, Toby thought silently.

Toby looked at Kim and said, “It’s so much easier to be forgiven than it is to extend forgiveness.”

†

All of us, without exception, will be wounded in or by the church. It’s impossible to put that many people together and not have casualties.

In the moments immediately following the wounding, we are faced with choices: to strike out in pain and anger, to simmer in bitterness until it interrupts communication between us and God. We can spread vicious rumors, slandering the one who hurt us or act self-righteous as though nothing happened, allowing ourselves to carry the wound into the future where it will affect everything we do.

Or we can take it to God, asking Him to help us do what we cannot do on our own: forgive them as God, through Jesus, forgave us.

Prayer

“God of mercy and grace, You have forgiven us so much. Show us how to forgive when it’s so hard. Be close right now because we can’t do this alone. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”