else more than God has already forgiven you. Whenever you are
hurt by someone, you have a choice to make: Will I use my
energy and emotions for retaliationor for resolution? You can’t
do both.
Many people are reluctant to show mercy because they don’t
understand the difference between trust and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is letting go of the past. Trust has to do
with future behavior.
Forgiveness must be immediate, whether or not a
person asks for it. Trust must be rebuilt over time.
Trust requires a track record. If someone hurts you
repeatedly, you are commanded by God to forgive
them instantly, but you are not expected to trust them
immediately, and you are not expected to continue allowing them
to hurt you. They must prove they have changed over time. The
best place to restore trust is within the supportive context of a
small group that offers both encouragement and accountability.
There are many other benefits you will experience in being a
part of a small group committed to real fellowship. It is an
essential part of your Christian life that you cannot overlook. For
over 2,000 years Christians have regularly gathered in small
groups for fellowship. If you’ve never been a part of a group or
class like this, you really don’t know what you’re missing.
In the next chapter we will look at what it takes to create this
kind of community with other believers, but I hope this chapter
has made you hungry to experience the authenticity, mutuality,
sympathy, and mercy of real fellowship. You were created for
community.
PURPOSE #2: You Were Formed for God’s Family 143