Throughout the scripture Christians are told to love others. Love does no harm to its neighbour. We are not to hurt others physically or emotionally. Words do hurt people. Think before you say something to hurt someone’s feelings. Not only words said directly to the person, but words said when that person is not around. Slander, gossip, lying, etc. is all evil and Christians should have nothing to do with these. Even if someone hurts us we are to be imitators of Christ and pay no one back for what they have done. Always be willing to apologize to others. Forgive just like God forgave you. Put others before yourself and be careful what comes out your mouth. Do what leads to peace and do all things for the glory of God. As believers we must be considerate of others. We should never mistreat others nor cause believers to stumble. We should always check to see how will our actions help someone in need. We should always check to see if our decisions in life will hurt others.

Bible teaches us to live peacefully. Romans 12:17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” also in Romans 14:19 Bible says, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”. “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it” says the Psalmist in verse 34:14. Secret to seeing Lord lies in verse 12:14 of Hebrews – “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”.

What does the Bible advise us to avoid hurting others? Ephesians 4:30-32 says, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. Further Leviticus 19:15-16 says, “Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the Lord”.

Many a time when somebody hurts us, it brings about loads of bitterness, anger and you never want to forgive them. But God teaches us not to repay with evil! 1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing”. Similarly, in Romans 12:17 it reads, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone?”.

Think now of the person who hurt you. That person may not deserve your forgiveness, but we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness. You may not want to forgive, but God commands us to forgive. And it won’t be the last time you forgive. Forgiveness is a choice we have to make time and time (and time) again. It feels painful, but it brings freedom. And that is why God requires this of us, even though it is painful.

Below are some verses that will help guide you in the process of forgiveness. If there is someone or something you need to forgive, I encourage you to act today. Meditate on these verses, and ask God to give you the strength you need to choose forgiveness today and every day.

1. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. – Colossians 3:13

2. Do not judge others, and God will not judge you; do not condemn others, and God will not condemn you; forgive others, and God will forgive you. – Luke 6:37

3. Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven.” – Matthew 18:21, 22

4. And when you stand and pray, forgive anything you may have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven will forgive the wrongs you have done. – Mark 11:25

5. But God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5 6. He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us according to our sins and wrongs. – Psalm 103:10

Bible teaches us God’s Love and it is His love that keeps us going in all circumstances. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. God stresses this fact in Ephesians 5:1-2, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”.

God wants to remind few basics of Christianity, nothing from my words but from the work of God.

1. Titus 3:2- “To slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people”
2. 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”
3. Ephesians 4:27 – “… give no opportunity to the devil” 4. Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves”. 5. Proverbs 18:21 – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”.

Some golden rules to avoid hurting others, once again from the word of God alone.

1. Matthew 7:12 – “In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfils the law and the prophets”.
2. Luke 6:31 – “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise”.

Dear believers in Christ, “Don’t become a stumbling block to Jews or Greeks or to the church of God” – 1 Corinthians 10:32.