“…Forgive as
the Lord forgave you.”
This will be a rough ride this morning so continue reading at your own risk.
Can any of us forgive as the Lord forgave us?
When I think of the people, I have “forgiven” I feel virtuous…but my reconciliation efforts pale in comparison to what God has done for me.
For the record:
- No one has brutalized and put my child to death.
- No one has continued to attack me after receiving my forgiveness.
- No one has accepted my forgiveness and then ignored me until they needed something else.
- No one takes my forgiveness and then continues to do the same thing repeatedly still expecting to fellowship with me.
So, this verse is a mystery…but if God means what He says, (and He always does) then we have an immense amount of work to do.
First, we must define the standard…how does God forgive?
God’s forgiveness separates me from my sin as far apart as the east is from the west” (Psalms 103:12). Is that how you forgive? Is the sin of the person you forgave far away from them… or is your forgiveness partial and conditional?
Do you say, “I’ll forgive you, but I won’t forget”? - God says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12)
Is the one you have forgiven permanently stained by the act they committed? - God says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18)
That is the target. The bar has been set and will not be lowered. I warned you this would be a rough ride… but God said what He said… By the way Jesus re-enforces this with His parable of the unforgiving slave. (Matthew 18:21-35)
This kind of supernatural forgiveness can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength to do it can only be found on your knees. Take God at His word and determine to obey.
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you” … Six little words that will change your life. It will be the hardest thing you have ever done, and it will provide the greatest freedom you have ever experienced…both for you and the one you forgive.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Lewis B. Smedes
This will be a rough ride this morning so continue reading at your own risk.
Can any of us forgive as the Lord forgave us?
When I think of the people, I have “forgiven” I feel virtuous…but my reconciliation efforts pale in comparison to what God has done for me.
For the record:
- No one has brutalized and put my child to death.
- No one has continued to attack me after receiving my forgiveness.
- No one has accepted my forgiveness and then ignored me until they needed something else.
- No one takes my forgiveness and then continues to do the same thing repeatedly still expecting to fellowship with me.
So, this verse is a mystery…but if God means what He says, (and He always does) then we have an immense amount of work to do.
First, we must define the standard…how does God forgive?
God’s forgiveness separates me from my sin as far apart as the east is from the west” (Psalms 103:12). Is that how you forgive? Is the sin of the person you forgave far away from them… or is your forgiveness partial and conditional?
Do you say, “I’ll forgive you, but I won’t forget”? - God says, “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12)
Is the one you have forgiven permanently stained by the act they committed? - God says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18)
That is the target. The bar has been set and will not be lowered. I warned you this would be a rough ride… but God said what He said… By the way Jesus re-enforces this with His parable of the unforgiving slave. (Matthew 18:21-35)
This kind of supernatural forgiveness can only be achieved through the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength to do it can only be found on your knees. Take God at His word and determine to obey.
“Forgive as the Lord forgave you” … Six little words that will change your life. It will be the hardest thing you have ever done, and it will provide the greatest freedom you have ever experienced…both for you and the one you forgive.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” - Lewis B. Smedes
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