Not Holding Grudges

<p>During a promotional event in 2011, two seventy-three-year-old former Canadian Football League players got into a fistfight on stage. They had a &ldquo;beef&rdquo; (grudges and feuds between friends, family members or enemies) dating back to a controversial championship football game in 1963. After one man knocked the other off the stage, the crowd called out to him to &ldquo;let it go!&rdquo; They were telling him to &ldquo;squash the beef.&rdquo;</p> <p>The Bible contains many examples of people &ldquo;beefing.&rdquo; Cain held a grudge against his brother Abel because God accepted Abel&rsquo;s offering over his (Genesis 4:5). This grudge was so severe that it eventually led to murder as &ldquo;Cain attacked his brother . . . and killed him&rdquo; (v. 8). &ldquo;Esau held a grudge against Jacob&rdquo; because Jacob stole the birthright that was rightfully his (27:41). This grudge was so intense that it caused Jacob to run for his life in fear.</p> <p>Not only does the Bible give us several examples of people who held grudges, but it also instructs us on how to &ldquo;squash the beef&rdquo;&mdash;how to seek forgiveness and reconciliation. God calls us to love others (Leviticus 19:18), pray for and forgive those who insult and injure us (Matthew 5:43&ndash;47), live peaceably with all people, leave revenge to God, and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:18&ndash;21). By His power, may we &ldquo;squash the beef&rdquo; today.</p>