Finding the Strength to Forgive
Forgiveness. It's the one of the hardest things to do; and yet the most rewarding. As Christians our faith is rooted in the idea of forgiveness. A righteous God forgiving an unrighteous people.
For something so close to the epicenter of our faith, why is it so hard for us to forgive? Well for one, many of us have a hard time letting go. When someone spites us, as humans we have an instinctual desire to get back. It's that instinct that makes it nearly impossible for us to move on.
As believers we are called to forgive, just as God forgave us through Christ (Ephesians 4:32) but what exactly is forgiveness? The greek word for forgiveness literally means to "let go". Forgiveness requires more than just letting go though, it requires dropping it all together to the point of forgetting.
Now, I know what many of you are thinking; "How can I forget what someone did to me?" but just hear me out. We know that God when He forgives us of our sins, He forgets all together (Hebrews 8:12) so if we are called to forgive just as God forgave us, what does that mean? We are to forget as well. Forgetting does not mean full blown amnesia, it simply means you've let go and moved on from whatever hurt you to the point where it has left your conscious and subconscious mind and heart. Think about it this way: if you cannot think of anything besides how that person hurt, betrayed or mistreated you, chances are you haven't truly forgiven that person.
Forgiveness is never about the other person, but all about you. Grudges are a weight that clouds our judgement and pollutes our hearts. Its impossible to hold a grudge and also love. As christians we are called above all to love; we are to be known by our love (John 13:35) so that puts you at a crossroad. Hold a grudge and denounce your faith or forgive and allow love to abound.
Forgiveness frees you from hate and the need for vengeance, it liberates you to love. Scripture tells us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us (Matthew 5:44) It is only then are we allowing God's profound love to manifest itself through us.
Forgiveness cost nothing and yet makes a world of a difference. Forgiving someone we deem undeserving of our forgiveness opens the door for us to tell of a greater forgiveness; the forgiveness of sins through Christ. It affords us the opportunity to preach the gospel.
There are numerous stories of forgiveness in the bible, but my favorite has to be the the parable of the unforgiving servant. In Matthew 18:21-35 Jesus tells a story of a King calling up his officials to pay back their debts. One official came up short and didn't have what he owed. Fearing being sold off, he falls to his knees and begs the King to take pity on him. The King being a good king takes pity on him and forgives the officials debt.
While returning home, the official saw another official that owed him money. Upon seeing him the first official begins demanding the second repays him. Instead of having pity when the second official could not pay, he has him thrown in jail. Some other officials see this and run back and tell the King.
When the King heard this he calls the first official back up and tells him off. As punishment for the officials lack of pity and hypocrisy the King has the first official tortured until he is able to pay back the debt. Jesus finishes out the parable by saying that this is how God will treat those who receive forgiveness and yet don't forgive.
In the last verse, verse 35 of that parable, the scripture says to forgive with all of your heart. As Christians we should not take that lightly, but we should be actively forgiving with all of our hearts. Forgiving with all of your heart looks like praying and interceding for those who have wronged you. It means allowing love to cast out hate. It means letting go and not seeking vengeance. It ultimately means forgetting. Make no secret, it does not happen overnight. It may not come without tears or heartbreak, but forgiveness is about overpowering not empowering our hurt.
The benefits of forgiveness are immeasurable, and the call for us to forgive is great. Forgiveness is supposed to be pure and heartfelt. Forgiveness is the ultimate test of love; it is only after we have mastered the art of forgiveness that we know and understand true compassion.
So, if you haven't already, forgive that friend or family member. Forgive that coworker or the guy who cut you off this morning. Make it a personal mission to operate daily in the ministry of forgiveness. From forgiveness comes grace; and we all know the wonders grace can do.
