Total Forgiveness

 

It is very difficult to be forgiven.

Ouch.

Why would I say such a thing? 

Because it is difficult to forgive.

Think of how many times that you (or someone that you love) has been wronged. How easy was it to forgive the person who wronged you, whether or not they were aware of what they had done? And, have you ever forgiven them?

Does the sheer mention or sight of the one who did wrong cause anxiety, negative thoughts, or anger? You may not have forgiven that person.

In Matthew 6:12, Jesus said that when we pray, we should ask God to “Forgive us our debts (sin), as we forgive our debtors”. This presents a problem…because many people have never completely forgiven others for wrongdoing. One indicator of unforgiveness is bitterness and resentment. If you are harboring feelings of bitterness and resentment towards others, then has God forgiven you for your sins?

Jesus also told us in Matthew 6:14-15, “If you do not forgive your brother, neither will I forgive you.” 

So what do you expect?

Should we expect God to do something that we are not willing to do ourselves?

At this point, you may be feeling discouraged. You may feel like you will never be able to be forgiven, because you “just can’t get over” something someone has done to you, or you just don’t, won’t, or can’t see yourself forgiving someone.

As humans, we are soulish and selfish. We have emotions, and our woundedness will always remind us that we didn’t deserve what was done to us. We will try to justify our feelings and defensive posture of unforgiveness by saying, “What about me?”

You may have an attitude of (Humph!) “Well, I will just never be able to forgive that person, so I guess I just won’t be forgiven!” If you can say such a thing lightly, then you are in danger. The sin of unforgiveness will place of rift between you and God. Sin is destructive, and will keep you out of fellowship with God. Sin is unholy, and will keep you from having a relationship with God.

Could the sin of unforgiveness actually be one reason for which we see the horrifying scenario in Matthew 7:21-23, where people who thought they were “Christian”, approach God’s throne only to be cast into eternal darkness and damnation, separated from the Light and Life of God’s love?

You could be feeling hopeless right now, knowing that you thought you had forgiven someone, but realize that you have not. You may feel incapable or unable. And, guess what? You can’t do it by yourself. You need help.

What should you do? Ask. Ask God. Ask Him for help. (Matthew 7:7-8)

 If you genuinely want His help, He is willing and able. If we are sincere in our desire to forgive, to obey God, and to preserve our relationship with Him, then there is something that we can do to show how serious we are about wanting His help in this process. Pray.

We are told in Matthew 5:44 to “love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”.

So, if you truly want to begin a journey of forgiveness, and to find peace within yourself, with God, and with man, then you pray. Pray for those who have wronged you. Pray for God to help you to do good, and to bless (forgive) those who have done things against you. And finally, pray for God to forgive you.

Did I say “journey”?  Yes…it is sometimes a journey, a process.

In Matthew 18:21-22, Peter asked Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

Perhaps, you find yourself needing to forgive one person over and over for different reasons. But perhaps you will also find yourself needing to extend forgiveness for one deed over and over and over. You can find yourself mentally returning to nurse wounds, remembering the pain of that experience. When you return to this painful place, it can be easy to pick up the burden of bitterness.

At this point, you must return to the foot of the cross and lay it down. Forgive again. And again. And again…over and over. You must realize the condition of your heart. Every day, every hour, and every minute, you must examine yourself, having an awareness of how easily you can be drawn into unforgiveness time after time. You must choose to forgive.

When you bless others with forgiveness, you will find yourself blessed, indeed. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

And what about the “four hundred and ninety” times? What does that say about God?

That tells us that He loves and understands us. That tells us that He considers our humanity. That tells us that He knows that healing and forgiveness can take time. That tells us that God is patient, and that He is willing to forgive us time after time.

Thank God for His patience and mercy. Thank God that we can become totally free, walking in wholeness and total forgiveness.

Be blessed, In Jesus' Name,

Angie