Breaking down the walls.. figuratively and literally

Ephesians 4:32
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

I think a lot of Christians like to skim over this verse quickly as they read through the Bible. Mainly because forgiveness is an extremely hard thing to do, no matter how big or small the issue. Forgiveness goes against our human nature.

Someone wrongs us, well, we are going to wrong them right back!

After all, they started it!

However, this "childish" attitude is not what God has commanded us to do.

Tonight at Crossroads, Tony, the pastor had three key points about this verse and here they are:

1) Be kind and compassionate! <-- cry with others and have a heart that feels what they are going through.

2) Forgiving=letting go! For me, this is a particularly difficult subject as of lately. I have been truly, deeply wounded by someone I cared and loved unconditionally. By forgiving this person, I would have to let go of the pain, frustration, anger, confusion, heartache that I had allowed to fill myself. For humans, it is easier to wallow in our pain, than to acknowledge it and then make a conscious effort to "let go" and forgive.

3) Forgive because God has forgiven us! This is an incredible statement about God's true character!! We are so undeserving of forgiveness from God, we sin and sin and cause pain and somehow God loved us enough to send His own Son to die for our sins...

All of us have built some kind of wall since childhood. This wall has been built by hurtful words, addictions, family issues, unrequited love, shortcomings, regret, guilt, shame, SIN. We hide behind this wall of supposed protection and can shut others out for fear of what they could do to us. This wall is only a burden to us and will be a constant reminder of our past and possible future failures. We will take this wall that has now become a shackle tethered to our hands and ankles as we trudge through life.. I can't say anyone would knowingly put this torment upon themselves, yet we all have our "wall." At the end of the sermon, Tony has a sledgehammer and broke the brick wall down! I think most of us also felt our wall being broken down inch by inch, brick by brick and a weight was lifted off my shoulders! I knew I could let this hurt go, I could let him go, I could give my wall to Jesus and He would take my heavy burden. I feel lighter and I know this is what my Savior did for me and will always do for me!

So, go, be kind and compassionate and forgive!