Read: Deuteronomy 32:35-36
“Gladden
the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O
Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon
you.
- Psalm 86:4-5
- Psalm 86:4-5
Forgiveness is a very challenging discipline to learn. It is extremely difficult for human beings to let go of the anger, bitterness and the desire for revenge, which we harbor against those who hurt us. In actuality, we dream up all sorts of calamities, which we hope our oppressors will fall into, as we grin with delight. Somehow, withholding forgiveness makes our woundedness easier to handle.
We
falsely believe that if we refuse to forgive, we are actually hurting our
offender. In reality, that person probably has no idea we are unhappy with them;
or if they do, they probably do not care. Forgiveness does not mean that we
absolve the person of their faults or condone their actions or words against
us. Forgiveness does not let them off the hook. It simply takes them off our hook and
places them firmly on God’s. God knows exactly how to hand out vengeance to our
tormentors (Deuteronomy 32:35-36).
The
bitterness that grows out of unforgiveness is a poisonous root that blossoms
into a great many other issues (Hebrews 12:15). If we choose to
entertain resentment instead of forgiving our offender, bitterness will corrupt
our whole life. We also realize that God cannot forgive us if we do not first
forgive others (Mark 11:26). If we do not ask forgiveness from those whom we offend
or wound, this is equally as serious (Matthew 5:24). However, when we
understand eternity, the concerns of this life lose their intensity and value.
This concept makes it easier to forgive.
The
Apostle Paul is a great example to us of what a forgiving person acts like when
persecuted. He was arrested multiple times, five different times the
Jewish leaders gave him thirty-nine lashes, three times he was beaten with
rods, once he was stoned and left for dead, three times he was shipwrecked, once
he spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. He was constantly on the move
to preach the gospel and to escape persecution. He was in danger from rivers,
from bandits, from his own countrymen and from many Gentiles. He was in danger
in the city, in the country, at sea and in danger from false brothers.
Paul worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless
nights. He was hungry and thirsty and often went without any food at all. He
shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep him warm. Then, besides
all of this, he had the daily burden of his concern for all of the churches he
planted (2 Corinthians 11: 24-28). Yet in spite of these horrendous issues, he forgave
his persecutors and he trusted God to give him everything he really needed.
In
fact, Paul was in Rome awaiting trial, under house arrest and chained to a
Roman soldier when he wrote the words, "Rejoice in the Lord always - and
again I say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4). He exhorted us from his
deprivation to rejoice always. Regardless of our circumstances, if we live in America
Paul
explains to us how to have a fulfilled life in Christ. "Let your
gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians
4:5-7).
The
reason we find it hard to rejoice in our circumstances like Paul did is that we
do not have the eternal perspective of life, which he maintained. We keep our
focus on the earthly, carnal, material aspects of our life rather than on the
spiritual, eternal ones. We do not have to wait until heaven to enjoy an
intimate, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. We can make the choice right
now to fully surrender our will to His, and to live with a completely spiritual
commitment, focus and lifestyle.
As
we rejoice always, focus on the eternal and trust in our Savior who lives
within us, our fears fade and we look at our affliction like Paul did, as
“light and momentary" (2 Corinthians 4:17). There is no longer any
need to harbor unforgiveness toward anyone. We can live with the blessings of
forgiveness instead. As we focus on eternal matters, we rejoice without ceasing
because of God’s salvation and multitude of blessings in our life. We exchange our
plan for our life with God’s plan. This change in our mindset provides us with fulfillment,
which we would never experience without complete surrender to His will.
Take
an honest look at your life. Are you a Christian in your outward behavior only,
or within as well? Is your walk full of head knowledge about God, or do you
have a true heartfelt relationship with the Savior of your soul? Do you think
like a follower of Christ in Biblical terms or are you caught up in anxiety
over the circumstances of your life? Do
you live like a follower of the true Lord Jesus Christ in all your words and
actions, or are you worshipping an idol of your own making?
Is
Jesus the Lord of your life, or are you sitting on His throne? Are you
controlled and guided by the Spirit of God or by your own cravings, ambitions
and desires? If you see any faults in yourself while answering any of these
questions, repent right now and forgive your self. God is waiting to bless you
with the fruit of His forgiveness.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help us to forgive those toward whom we harbor animosity. Give us the courage to ask others to forgive us for anything we did to wound them. Then, give us the humility to ask Father God to forgive us for all of our sins, to redeem our soul, to give us an eternal perspective about life and to draw us ever closer to His heart. We count our self blessed. We are so happy to get a fresh start. Our slate of sin is wiped clean because of Your sacrifice on the cross. You hold nothing against us, and we are holding nothing back from You (Psalm 32:1-2).
Thought for the Day:
Forgiveness is the oil that heals our damaged soul. – Psalm 147:3
