By Richard Wallace, Pastor, Temple Baptist Church, Flower Mound
Recently, a young man playing soccer got upset with the call the referee made and punched him. The referee died as a result, and that seventeen-year-old is now charged with involuntary manslaughter.
So many tragedies can be avoided if we learn to “pass over” wrongs done to us, whether those wrongs are real or perceived. Every week, if not most days, we are called upon to deal with hurts and disappointments done to us by others, from strangers in traffic to beloved family members.
Proverbs 19:11 – “The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
Many people are shackled with things in their lives that they just cannot let go. To get past some things, we must be willing to forgive the person who wronged us. Too often, we don’t forgive and pass over the transgression because the wrong done to us is our reason or excuse for why we are where we are in life.
I am not saying that it is always easy to forgive those who have wronged us. Saying “I forgive you” can be quite difficult at times, but it is a good practice to forgive people even before they ask. Forgiveness does not undo wrongs that have been done to us. Forgiveness does not always make our hurt go away. Forgiveness is possible through the power of God.
Use discretion and determine, “Is this something I need to ‘pass over’ or take to authorities?” Don’t allow your day or maybe even your life to be held back by a bad call, traffic problem, or something more serious. We all need to “pass over” transgressions. We all need to exercise forgiveness.
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