Bait of Satan

So I have heard a lot about this book...and I finally got it.  I figured I should write this blog while it was still fresh in my mind.  I should say that though I respect John Bevere as a writer; however, I don't agree with him completely on all of his theological persuasions.  Nonetheless, I have been blessed by this book in an incredible way.Much of this book is about offenses and forgiveness.  The first half speaks of how Satan puts his "bait" out by having Christian become easily offended, and harbor resentment and unforgiveness.  I know that recently I certainly have been battling with this.  Just so you know it hasn't been toward my wife or anyone with MB Mission.  But there has certainly been many times where I have felt the "hook" of the bait.  Holding on to unforgiveness is like a wound in your soul, an open wound that becomes infected and just festers.  Hope that's a nice image for you today.  Truth is even though we can't see the wound with our natural eyes that doesn't mean the effect isn't real.  I know first hand how deep these wounds certainly can be. One of the deepest wounds that I have had came from my father.  My parents divorced when I was around 4, and I basically grew up without a father.  My mother moved my sister and I to Bakersfield, California when I was 5 my sister 3.  To be honest I can't say I don't blame my mother.  She was in a difficult situation, and she knew she wanted to give us a better life.  Growing up with a mom who struggled to pay the bills, many times working two, to three jobs at once, and not having a father around affected me for several years.  I remember after I completely gave my life to Christ at 20 I felt The Lord impress upon my heart to forgive my father.  I remember telling The Lord, "how can you expect me to forgive him! Don't you know what he's done to me, how deep He's hurt me!?" In that moment I felt The Lord say, "I know how deeply he's hurt you...but how deeply have you hurt me...with your life style, kicking dirt and spitting in my face, and I have forgiven you for all of it...and what your father has done to you doesn't even compare to what you've done to me." Shortly after that I went to see my father in prison and I felt The Lord tell me, "just let him be your Dad." I am pleased to announce that I have been able to, by the grace of God, to  forgive my father and now we have a wonderful relationship.  I genuinely have a deep love and affection for my father.   John Bevere really does a great job at communicating how holding on to unforgiveness and bitterness truly causes the hook to penetrate into our soul.  As we understand how much we have been forgiven it's so much easier to forgive. Cecil

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