(First, please read: The Joy of Forgiveness – Part 1)
When Jesus hung from the
cross, He looked upon His persecutors with His vitality ebbing from His body.
In His lasts moments of life, He prayed for God to forgive His persecutors (Luke
23:34). How many of us could do that?
The only way this is possible is if we are transformed into the likeness of
Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The more time we spend with God in prayer, Bible study and fellowshipping with
other authentic Christian, the more spiritually minded we become.
Forgiveness is the truest
sign of a life hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1-4). The only way that we can totally forgive injustices
done to us is by the power of the Cross. We realize, as Jesus did, that the
actions of mankind toward us are merely a temporary inconvenience, because God
has a higher plan and purpose for us in them all (Jeremiah 29:11). We are a true example of Christ when we forgive, and
it touches the lives of all those who know about the situation (John
17:23).
God is the only One whose
opinion of us really matters. When we relinquish our need to be “right” and to
have everyone believe that we are innocent, then we have a better chance of
being free from the tyranny of their opinion of us. God calls us to put aside
our quarreling, jealousy and pride and to be kind to everyone, to be teachable
and not to resent anyone (2 Timothy 2:24).
Forgiveness does not require
that we trust the offender. However, God does required that we Agape them ~
love them with God’s love in their time of need (Matthew 5:44). We do not, however, have to welcome them back into
our life with open arms. We can still keep them at arm’s length until they
prove to us that we can trust them. We do not even have to like them. The Bible
never commands us to like someone. God only requires that we allow Him to love
that person through us.
Forgiveness is not something
we can do through self-effort. When someone injures us, treats us unfairly or
misunderstands our intent, it wounds us to the core. We want them to be humble
and to ask us for our forgiveness before we consent to forgive them. However,
Christ gave us the perfect example on Calvary’s cross of true forgiveness.
Luke 6: 27-31 is our guide…"But I say to you that hear, Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those
who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek also;
and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to
every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask
for them back again. And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”
What advice do we find here:
1. Pray for those who mistreat us.2. Ask God to bless them.
3. Do something good for them.
4. In time, God will give us His love for them.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, we humble our self, confess the sin in our heart and go to Your Cross for forgiveness for our desire to control our own life. We acknowledge our need for Your forgiveness. Remind us that we are not worthy to cast the first stone at others (John 8:7). Help us to submit to the dealing of Your Holy Spirit in our life and to trust You to finish Your sanctifying work in us that You started at the moment of our salvation.
Thought for the Day:
Forgiveness requires daily crucifixion of our pride and total submission to God’s Spirit.
