Forgiveness Is Less Fun Than Revenge
Posted by:
Bible Blogger on
July 23, 2007 at
12:45AM EST
There are few things harder than truly forgiving someone who doesn't
deserve to have forgiveness given to them. You know the people...the
ones who show absolutely no repentance for what they've done and
honestly don't understand that they were in the wrong to either you,
someone you know or someone that you've seen in your life. It's hard
to give forgiveness to that person because we as human beings want so
badly to see "JUSTICE!" We feel that if we give that forgiveness to
someone else then they're not going to be held accountable for their
actions and that they're going to get away with whatever evil they've
wrought on other lives.
Unfortunately as Christians we don't have a choice in the matter.
Well, I guess that's not entirely right. We DO have a choice in the
matter but if we want to grow in Christ and get closer to Him we have
only one choice to make and that is to show forgiveness to others for
the things they do.
"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15 (ESV)
I don't know about you but I want God to forgive my sins. I make so
many mistakes through the course of my day that if it wasn't for God's
grace and mercy and forgiveness I'd be a complete basket case. If
you're honest with yourself you'll admit you'd be in the same boat as
me. Even if we don't intend to do sinful things during our day we'll
still end up doing SOMETHING that rises to the level of sin. Even if
it's an unkind word toward the idiot driving 25 in a 55 mile per hour
zone on a two lane highway with no passing zones. There's going to be
something you for which you need to be forgiven.
Remember too from that passage that it's not saying God can't forgive
you for anything you do. It's saying that if you refuse to give the
forgiveness to others that God is going to return to you the same
measure. That means you have to show the same forgiveness to that
ex-wife/ex-husband, corrupt boss, overbearing step-mother/step-father,
loud & obnoxious neighbor, etc. that you wish to have given to
you. It's not a fun thing to do but it's the only option that's given
to us.
Above and beyond that forgiveness, we're called to bless those who fall into those situations!
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them." - Romans 12:14 (ESV)
Persecute has upon it the connotation that it's an active choice of the
person causing harm to you but it can be something inadvertent as
well. Anything that causes harm upon you either physically,
financially or emotionally can be persecution by the purest term.
Essentially, this is any situation where you are put in a place that
you need to forgive another person for their actions.
Realize that just giving them forgiveness can be blessing this person.
I'm not telling you to take someone who's abused you and shows no
repentance and run right back into the same situation to have the tar
pounded out of you again. However, if you have someone who's truly
repentant and seeking your forgiveness the act of saying "I forgive
you" and meaning it can be a blessing beyond measure to that person.
That doesn't mean you have to see, speak or be involved with that
person again but it does mean you can bless them one last time.
Try not to think of "blessing" in the terms by which it's defined by
many Christians. Blessing isn't just the major items that make
everyone in the world stand up and take notice. It can be as simple as
a ride to the grocery store, a package of Pez on a day you're feeling
low or a simple "I forgive you" when you've done something wrong to
someone else and the guilt is eating away at your spirit. Look beyond
the big when it comes to blessing and you'll see many ways to follow
the instructions of Romans.
Now, it's likely when you read this blog someone came to your mind. My
pastor talked about this issue today in church and said that would
happen although to be honest I didn't have anyone pop into my head. (I
don't know what that means.) If you had someone come up, take the time
now to truly forgive them and release them to God. You'll find that
you will feel a lot better about yourself and the stress and anger
that's been dominating your emotions will lose their power.
If, by God's will, you're placed in a situation where you can bless
that person then take the opportunity to do it. You'll be surprised
how the act of blessing someone who's persecuting you can end up
changing you for the better.
P.S. I want to thank everyone who's sent me notes since my announcement on Friday that I'm engaged. Amy is a real blessing straight from God and I can't believe He's blessed me with her!
