The Art of Forgiving Luke chapter 6 verses 31 to 36 #6

Have you ever had a major conflict with a neighbour or workmate?

Strategies for dealing with difficulties Clarify the significance of the situation Accept it, Excuse it, Address it? Could I have done something differently here? Have I contributed to the problem in any way? Pray! 2. Clarify the appropriate response if the situation needs addressing 3. Consider the Bible “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.” What would be the most loving thing I could do in this situation? “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, do your best to live at peace with everyone.” (Ro 12:18)

Love means to accept someone as they are and to seek the best for them. It’s easy to ignore our difficult neighbours/workmates and to move on….but Jesus asks us to do more! 4. Forgive, Bless, Pray Matthew 5 v 44: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Luke 6 v28: “Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.” “Forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us.”

Luke chapter 6 (GNT) 31 Do for others just what you want them to do for you. 32 “If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that! 34 And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount! 35 No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.”

There is a huge difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. Forgive, Pray, Bless…these are the faces of Love. There is a huge difference between forgiveness and reconciliation.

Summary for our Neighbouring series We hope this raises awareness of our neighbours. We hope to be more intentional with our neighbours – “to walk towards them”.   Loving our neighbours means getting to know them. We do not love our neighbours to convert them; we love our neighbours because we are converted.