No one enjoys the assignment of learning and practicing forgiveness.
It is counter-intuitive to both our reason and our emotions. And, from what I can tell so far, in the journey of my life, I am going to get to work on this one until the day I die.
There is Divine logic to this command, however.
And, let me add this qualifier, I know more about this subject than I have yet applied.
Knowledge is not the problem ... application is everything!
First thing’s first, the Christian faith teaches us to forgive—wholesale.
It doesn't make allowances for any particular offense whereby we have been injured, no matter how bad.
It just throws it out there as part of what it means to be a follower of Christ: forgive, 100% of the time.
This teaching has gotten me into trouble more than once; and pleading that I am only the messenger accomplishes absolutely nothing.
It only takes one person to come up to me and say something like one of these statements to make me want to leave this topic for good.
“I was sexually abused by a relative.”
“I was abandoned by my father.”
“I fought in the war where I saw the enemy butcher innocent children.”
It is in statements like these that I can’t help but hear the very reasonable logic—the pleas for an exception—for the unique horror these people have experienced—true horror that haunts them day after day.
Some have experienced a great number of these horrors and that makes it all the more difficult to encourage them down the path of forgiveness.
Their sorrows have been multiplied. Their challenge is indeed greater than mine.
This I can promise: God knows what He is up to with this command.
Ultimately, it is for our own good.
Consider the last few words of Jesus as he hung there in agony on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
As we live life with purpose—that is, to become more like Jesus—we must learn His forgiveness.
Even as I write this, I think, “Boy, this is hard!”
Nevertheless, He calls me to my knees; and only there will I find the strength to stand and say I forgive.
I love you all
Go give em Heaven
Pastor Scott
Want more encouraging blogs from Pastor Scott? Click here.
It is counter-intuitive to both our reason and our emotions. And, from what I can tell so far, in the journey of my life, I am going to get to work on this one until the day I die.
There is Divine logic to this command, however.
And, let me add this qualifier, I know more about this subject than I have yet applied.
Knowledge is not the problem ... application is everything!
First thing’s first, the Christian faith teaches us to forgive—wholesale.
It doesn't make allowances for any particular offense whereby we have been injured, no matter how bad.
It just throws it out there as part of what it means to be a follower of Christ: forgive, 100% of the time.
This teaching has gotten me into trouble more than once; and pleading that I am only the messenger accomplishes absolutely nothing.
It only takes one person to come up to me and say something like one of these statements to make me want to leave this topic for good.
“I was sexually abused by a relative.”
“I was abandoned by my father.”
“I fought in the war where I saw the enemy butcher innocent children.”
It is in statements like these that I can’t help but hear the very reasonable logic—the pleas for an exception—for the unique horror these people have experienced—true horror that haunts them day after day.
Some have experienced a great number of these horrors and that makes it all the more difficult to encourage them down the path of forgiveness.
Their sorrows have been multiplied. Their challenge is indeed greater than mine.
This I can promise: God knows what He is up to with this command.
Ultimately, it is for our own good.
Consider the last few words of Jesus as he hung there in agony on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
As we live life with purpose—that is, to become more like Jesus—we must learn His forgiveness.
Even as I write this, I think, “Boy, this is hard!”
Nevertheless, He calls me to my knees; and only there will I find the strength to stand and say I forgive.
I love you all
Go give em Heaven
Pastor Scott
Want more encouraging blogs from Pastor Scott? Click here.
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