By Anita Mondragon

 

As Believers, we are called to be like Jesus.  

 

I don’t know if I’m the only one who at times struggles with this, but sadly enough…I do!  I just told my husband the other day, “I’m so tired of being the forgiver and never the forgiven!  Everyone else seems to think they can have a human moment, and temporarily  ‘fall from grace,’ and I’m supposed to forgive them…but when I am guilty and do the wrong things, forgiveness from them is nowhere to be found!”

 

Did I really think that…and then voice it out loud???  Yes!  I did.

 

You see, my dad was a preacher for over forty years and my brother and I were always supposed to be the example.  There was always someone running to my dad to report on our failings and trespasses!  All the other kids in the church were forgiven when they made a mistake, but not my brother and I.  So…here I am, some sixty years later still having to be the example because I’m in ministry.  

 

I get it.  I KNOW I’m supposed to be like Jesus.  Not only because I’m in ministry…but most of all because I am a Believer, a follower of Jesus.  He’s my Savior and Lord!  

 

So I said all of that to say this…we are ALL human.  We all make mistakes and displease the Lord at times.  But let’s stop passing judgment and take the beam out of our own eye before we try to remove the splinter out of our brother’s eye!  

 

GOD FORGAVE US…AND WE SHOULD BE QUICK TO FORGIVE OTHERS!  Romans 5:8 says: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  If we are truly going to be like Jesus, then we need to love those around us and forgive them as Jesus forgave and still forgives us!