Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering, forebearing one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye – Colossians 3:12-13

Years ago, there was a saying, “What Would Jesus Do?” Many were wearing the bracelet and leaving out the action.

Throughout the New Testament, we’re admonished to forgive, to react as Jesus did, if we’re professing to be followers of Christ. To forgive is easier said than done; it’s something we have to continue to work on daily, confessing it, believing, and reacting to it.

When we have trouble forgiving, all we have to do is ask the Father with sincerity to help us forgive, and He will do exactly that. We’re instructed to be holy, which only indicates being separated from the ways of the world and submitting to God’s written instructions.

We should show mercy, kindness, and humbleness to others. Being able to tolerate others and love them in their mess, loving them until the mess comes out of them. Being able to disagree without being offensive. To show the world the love of God, we must act like Him without partiality.

If He’s truly in us, He will be shining through us at all times, the good times as well as the troublesome times. All we have to do is ask for the Grace and the Mercy to do to others as He has instructed us. There is more to sin than drinking, drugging, fornicating, and committing adultery.

When we can walk past a brother or sister in the Sanctuary and act as though they don’t exist can be harmful and offensive. Many of the church hurt comes within the church (That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ – Philippians 1:10). When we do that, we need to examine ourselves to see what spirit we’re walking in because that is not the Spirit of Our Christ!

Something is wrong spiritually when Christians can hurt one another and have no remorse. There is no way one can have the Spirit of God living in them, and they aren’t aware when they have offended someone or taken an action that would be offensive.

Jumping and shouting, running down the isles but can’t get along with a sister or brother is hypocrisy. The Bible says we should follow peace with all people, that means the believer as well as the nonbeliever (Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord – Hebrews 12:14). How can we have the Spirit of God indwelling our being and we can’t control our tongues or our actions?

Many Christians are hurt by relationships, marriages, family, friends, co-workers, and they don’t release the hurt or the forgiveness, and they bring the hurt into the church and hurt others. Then it becomes a domino effect, the spirit of hurt transferring from one Christian to another.

When you’re hurt, you need to be truthful to yourself and ask God to forgive you and help you to release the hurt. If you continue to carry the spirit of hurt, it will become a sin. The grouping of spirits with hurt is retaliation, destruction, spite, hatred, sadism, and cruelty. Confess the sin and ask for forgiveness (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness – John 1:9).

As Christians, we must put on the character of Jesus; if He’s dwelling in us, then we should have the Fruit of His Spirit manifesting!