Falsehood is
a hard thing to put away since it is so deceptive and evil speech often comes
out of our mouths masquerading as truth spoken to neighbor. (The proverbial log
in the eye that is blind to everything except the speck of sawdust in the eye
of the other – Matthew 7:3) So we need to make an effort to “put away” what
comes naturally and “imitate” what does not. Maybe if we were painfully aware
that in grieving others we grieve the Holy Spirit of God we would make every
effort to imitate God for God’s sake. So being angry without sinning means we
do not nurse resentment or wrap ourselves in indignation as if it were a
comforter but seek to resolve whatever grievances we have against each other
for the sake of God. And if as beloved children we are truly members of one
another then we cannot be whole without forgiving one another as we have been
forgiven. So loving the other for God’s sake turns out to be a very good thing
for us as well and since we are most often motivated by self interest...
forgiving others may be the best way of being selfish.
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