The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Leviticus 19:15-18, “’You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly.

16 ‘You shall not go about as a slanderer among your people, and you are not to act against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.

17 ‘You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him.

18 ‘You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD.”

It was like yesterday, although I was a small boy. I came home furious, vowing that I would never play again with my neighbor across the street! He used bad language, and I would have nothing to do with him ever again!

I think I’ve shared this with you previously, but it corresponds equally well with the Scripture above. Although the above passage is taken from the Old Testament, holding grudges is equally sinful and as unnecessary for today’s environment as it was when Leviticus was written.

I’m sure I’ve done things over the years for which some still hold me accountable. None of us live lives of perfection; still, the grudge-holder is more the victim than the ones who are accused. Sin is sin, whoever commits it; and sin can be sin in both directions.

The Scripture is clear that one “…may surely reprove…” another, but is warned against incurring sin by holding a grudge. Both parties should repent. There should be no harboring of ill will against anyone by a true believer in Jesus Christ.

It’s hard for any of us to admit to having sinned. We may try by arguing that the sin was “the other person’s fault.” But unless we release the hardness we hold against that other person, we only continue to do harm to ourselves. “…You, LORD, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5). May I be the one to issue that call.

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

We will never know that Christ is all we need, Until He becomes all that we have. – Corrie ten Boom