Forgiveness
Posted in grace, judging, Misti's Posts 0 comments
"Holding a grudge is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die."
When we fail to forgive people in our lives, the person who suffers the most is us. Holding a grudge is toxic to our body and soul. As we allow the hurt we have suffered to fester, our physical health deteriorates, and our every day attitude turns sour. Before we know it, our hearts are hardened; against man and God.
Jesus turned the law of retribution on its ear. The old Mosaic law said, among other things, this: If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 Christ showed forgiveness in the face of this law.
John 8:3-11
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Jesus clearly gives us an example of how things are to be different with Him in our lives. If Christ has the power and is willing to pardon this clear violation of God's laws, who are we to withhold forgiveness from one another? Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Luke 6:37
Each of us is a sinner. We have trampled on the name of Christ more times than we can count. We return to old sins we have repented from. Each of us has been forgiven of our sins-past, present, and future. In the face of this magnitude of grace and mercy, how can we justify refusing to forgive those who have sinned against us?
Forgiveness is not easy. It takes prayer and humility that the world doesn't teach us. Forgiveness does not mean instant restoration of trust. It doesn't "make it all better". It IS what we are called to do, and it drives a wedge between us and God when we fail to obey.
"Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses; as we forgive those who trespass against us."
When we fail to forgive people in our lives, the person who suffers the most is us. Holding a grudge is toxic to our body and soul. As we allow the hurt we have suffered to fester, our physical health deteriorates, and our every day attitude turns sour. Before we know it, our hearts are hardened; against man and God.
Jesus turned the law of retribution on its ear. The old Mosaic law said, among other things, this: If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 Christ showed forgiveness in the face of this law.
John 8:3-11
The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
Jesus clearly gives us an example of how things are to be different with Him in our lives. If Christ has the power and is willing to pardon this clear violation of God's laws, who are we to withhold forgiveness from one another? Do not judge so that you will not be judged. Matthew 7:1 Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. Luke 6:37
Each of us is a sinner. We have trampled on the name of Christ more times than we can count. We return to old sins we have repented from. Each of us has been forgiven of our sins-past, present, and future. In the face of this magnitude of grace and mercy, how can we justify refusing to forgive those who have sinned against us?
Forgiveness is not easy. It takes prayer and humility that the world doesn't teach us. Forgiveness does not mean instant restoration of trust. It doesn't "make it all better". It IS what we are called to do, and it drives a wedge between us and God when we fail to obey.
"Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses; as we forgive those who trespass against us."
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