(2Corinthians 2:10&11) Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.  And what I have forgiven – if there was anything to forgive – I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us.  For we are not unaware of his schemes.

Why is there so much hostility in the world even among God’s children?  The answer is twofold: humans have a sinful nature, and the lies of a scheming enemy. It is our sinful nature that the enemy uses to taunt us – seeking to lead us into evil.  How do we fight against this?

 Jesus taught us how to overcome our sinful nature and the lies of the enemy.  Being humble before our God is the way to start.  When we recognize that without Jesus, we can do nothing; it sets us in that humble place.  We were created to be in close relationship with our creator. We were not created to stand alone.  God is for us, not against us.  In this, we humbly surrender our pride to access the tools God has given us.

One of the most important lesson Jesus taught us is to forgive one another. He has forgiven us; he, therefore, instructs us to be forgiving, as he is forgiving. If we truly forgive each other, the enemy has nothing to use to keep us at odds.  Taking the humble position, not holding on to an offence, and rebuking the enemy when he tries to remind us of the offence, gives us a victory over our sinful nature and the enemy’s schemes. 

Forgiving and forgetting an offence is not easy.  We can’t do it alone; We need Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us. Think about it.  Isn’t this how we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh?  The victory is ours if we humbly trust Jesus and do what he taught us to do.