My Father, the one whom my soul loves, has extended mercy through grace, gifting me a forgiven life, that extends forgiveness to others as an example of his compassionate unfailing love. On Father’s Day, I am thankful for the gift of his Holy Spirit, as he has afforded me the opportunity, to overcome the things of this world, including the burden of hurt I carried that was not mine to carry. Because of who he is, I can be; forgiven giving forgiveness.
To be forgiven is freedom. Transparently, it’s much more than freedom but for this short blog I’ll discuss its freedom. The wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23). The covering of forgiveness allows us to live forgiven which pays recompense for our sin. A debt we no longer owe. Forgiven.
I am eternally grateful for the forgiven life I am privileged to live as a result of the unfailing love yielding mercy through grace for my sins; gifted to me by my Savior. Jesus Christ. It is a gift, one I could not earn, one I could never deserve, and one I am thankful to have accepted (Ephesians 2:8-9).
God is good to me: better than I deserve.
As I have walked through life the last few days I have been thankful more and more for the opportunity to be forgiven. Yet, I have been stretched to remember, that because I am forgiven, I am called to forgive.
Reasonable ask • Difficult task
This task has proven to be one of the most difficult things for my human nature to submit to. As I have been wronged. There are times I have earned the wrong. Others have been unearned. Some have been from strangers. Some from acquaintances. But, some, have come from those nearest and dearest to my heart. Those I have treasured. The ones I have trusted. Those wrongs are the worst as they leave behind a wound unlike any other. Indescribable. Unimaginable.
In all of the wrongdoing of others I have received, always, I felt justified, in my hurt, anger, and unforgiveness. Rightfully I have grieved over the pain caused by others to me. Emotional. Psychological. Physical. Hurt.
Real hurt.
How can I not be justified to carry unforgiveness for the ones who caused such pain.
I asked, God, how can that be a reasonable task for me? I understand, you, the God of all creation, is able to show mercy, grace, relentless love, and forgiveness.
But. I. Hurt.
As I pondered that thought in my heart, I remembered.
The God of all creation. The I Am. The Redeemer. The Savior. The Name above all names. Jesus Christ, my King. Has hurt, yet forgiven.
He grieved the egregious sins of the very man he made. Knowing when he created man this would be the painful journey we would take. We would fall short of his glory and sin. Yet, he breathed the very breath of his Spirit into the lungs of Adam, and created mankind. Me. (Genesis 6:6) (1 Chronicles 28:9; Job 37:14 – 16)
He has wept over our pains. Despite knowing the miraculous around the corner as we have considered him late, he comforted us in our time of sorrow. (John 11)
He has wept over the sins we are embarking upon out of unfailing love for us despite our rejection of him. The sting of rejection he has felt from the very man he made.(Luke 19:41-44)
He has felt the burn of jealousy, while in long suffering, he has waited on the shelf, in the backseat, set aside for you and I to pursue our earthly lust and fleshly desires before and above him. Success. Affirmation of people. Chasing cultural ways of the world that denounce Him. Sexual impurity. Movements of the world that deny Christ. Pretending like we aren’t yet we know we are. So does he. Idolatry. All the while he waits, lovingly. Often we chase after these things before him with our hand out for His goodness. Even blaming him for the shortfall of man. (Deuteronomy 6:15; Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 5:9)
He, who knew no sin, the spotless Lamb, submitted his flesh to the cross, as he bore the shame and weight of the ugly of sin on himself, shedding his blood, for the man who put him there asking those beautiful precious words, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)
You see, we mistakenly believe out of a false perception that God forgives, because he does not hurt or grieve. Yet, his word tells us, he does. Still, he forgives.
The world holds grudges, seeks vengeance, demands recompense, and judges with a lack of compassion. The world pushes people out writing them off as a loss, unworthy of forgiveness and love. That is fine for people of the world.
Those of us who claim to know Christ are called to a higher standard. We are called to walk in pursuit of forgiveness to the debtor as we have been forgiven of our debt.
Be careful, friend, what you justify out of fear, feelings, hurt, or bitterness for yourself and others. There is no Christ like way to live outside of forgiveness. He welcomed you home as the prodigal child he knew you would before you were even born. Yet, he called you by name. Knit you together in your mothers womb. Has precious thoughts about you that outnumber the grains of sand. He calls you to the same. (Luke 15:11-33; Psalm 139).
There is no other message by which we can live or support, for a message that delivers anything outside of forgiveness for sins and hurts of the past has abandoned the message of the gospel, thereby abandoning the Gospel himself. Be cautious and diligent not to fall prey to the lie of the world. Your soul is at stake. Please remember, the soul is the goal, let us not forget. There is but one prize in the war. The battle we fight is not for the temporary of this world. It is for the eternal home of our soul and the souls of others.
To be forgiven is to be free to give forgiveness that yields healing in your heart and others. The mission of Christ is then the mission you pursue. (John 3:17)
Bobbie
