Forgiveness

   Oh what that one word means!  It is almost impossible to have a complete understanding of it, yet I would go out on a limb to say that most of us begin our prayers asking God  to forgive us. God has presented me with several situations recently to think about the concept of forgiveness; and on Wednesday during prayer meeting, that was the topic Pastor placed before us. Coincidence?  I think not!  Sometimes when I refuse to be still, God puts me in time out for my own good. :)

   Our study on Wednesday evening was of Matthew 18:21-35,  which is the parable of the unmerciful servant.  (V.21-22). "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?  Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

   Jesus clearly tells us all that we SHALL forgive our brother as many times as he sins against us. Now, if you sat down and made a mental note of all the people (brothers) who offended you in one way or another today, I bet you could make a pretty healthy list. Others you encounter throughout the course of your day may sin against you, but because you are having a relatively good day, you just let it  go in the spirit of being a "good" Christian. However other times even the simplest, unintended slight can become the biggest stumbling block for us for weeks and even months, depending on our mood at that particular time. 

    Forgiveness is such an important teaching point of Jesus' that we can find 124 different references to it in the Bible. Interestingly, very few of them are from the Old Testament.  The references to forgiveness there are almost exclusively about repentance in the form of some offering to God to repay the debt of sin, as required by Jewish law. As a matter of fact, the law required actual atonement of the debtor.  Additionally, in  pagan cultures forgiveness was considered a personality weakness, and many times small transgressions were considered to be beneath important or influential men. (Hmmmm.... I think I've seen that philosophy very recently.)   

     My favorite  verse about forgiveness is Ephesians 4:23. 

   "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."  It speaks of both human and divine forgiveness.   So, as I take inventory of those who I need to forgive and the much longer list of those who have forgiven me; I think of God's sacrifice for us and maybe the most recognized verse in the New Testament.  Luke 23:24 "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

   Heavenly Father forgive me. Lead me to live and forgive as Jesus did. 

~Amen

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Sharing My Jesus,

Shawn