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Forgiveness, The Forgotten Command
We have at least one thing in common: We've all failed someone. And each of us
also knows the pain from someone's failure toward us. In a world
characterized by this kind of personal hurt, even our most significant
relationships are fragile. All relationships would eventually disintegrate if
not for one healing and hard reality: We are called to be people who forgive and
who in turn receive forgiveness (Mat 6:14-15). If we sincerely desire a close
walk with God, we already embrace the concept of forgiveness. We know that
forgiveness is always the best plan - until the one who need to do the hard
forgiving is me.
Unfortunately, there are no easy steps to forgiveness. But we can be confident
that what God directs us to do, He also provides the strength to
accomplish. Consider the following Biblical principles when we are ready take
the freeing steps of forgiveness.
First, consider God's example. In Ephesians 4:32 Paul writes, "forgiving each
other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." The word "as" means that we
should handle forgiveness the way God does. How has he handled forgiveness?
Christ's forgiveness is abundantly generous. He forgiven
willingly, leaving us free of guilt. It is not something we deserve or earn. God
just gives abundantly! Out of these great riches, God asks us to share the grace
He has given us with those who have failed us. That sounds really good, but how
do we do it?
Next, we must realize that forgiveness is risky business. The person we forgive
might fail us again . and again -perhaps even in the same area. How
many times should we forgive someone? Jesus described this as the "seventy times
seven " factor (Matt. 18:22). He said we should set no limits.
Forgiveness according to Jesus is not quantitative but qualitative. It is not
how many times but how well. It cannot be measured and cannot be
counted. It has but one substance, sweet mercy. It is important for us to
realize we have been forgiven. What a terrible price was paid for that
forgiveness. What a marvelous attribute of God's kindness that we have been
forgiven. Forgiveness cannot be measured. Guilt which is it's ultimate
object cannot be measured. You can't measure so that you come up with
hyper-guilt or multiplied guilt. Guilt is guilt. My guilt added to your guilt
does not make more guilt it just makes guilt. So it is with forgiveness.
Forgiveness is getting rid of the guilt. Extend forgiveness as many times as
needed. That is what God does. we do any less? Forgiveness is also costly
because it is not based on feelings but compassion. It means we have to get out
of ourselves and feel what our detractor feels. It means consciousness plays a
role in compassion. It means we consciously say we know we were wronged but we
want to forgive the offender, because we have done wrong before. Forgiveness is
not related to deservedness but mercy. Prompted by our being forgiven, the
forgiven sinner will anxiously await opportunities to emulate his masters
forgiving spirit in forgiving others.
Finally, if we harbor ill-will in our heart forgiveness gets harder and harder.
The harder our heart becomes we will have a hardened conscience. It says we are
not willing to do for others what was done for us, on a smaller basis. An
unforgiving person will be lost. If you do not have an attitude of
forgiveness then you cannot be forgiven and will not go to heaven when you die.
You will harbor hate when he did not harbor hate against you.
Forgiveness is often neglected in lives of Christians.
Though we fail time and again - and are disappointed often by those we love -
Christ forgives and restores. Let's follow His lead.
By Rickie Jenkins
From Expository Files 11.9; September 2004
