To forgive is divine
by f. martin
Matthew 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
If you have been a Christian for more than an hour, you most likely have understood that the primary theme to our faith is forgiveness. It is the central theme to why we worship our Father in Heaven, because He forgave us. He did so before we were us! Many Christians have heard this, witnessed this, preached this and practiced this. It is tough indeed to live this when it is on our lap. Quite frankly, there are many things that are tough within the Christian faith because it goes against the nature we live within day to day. The world spits out movie after movie of revenge, anger, rage and these actions are often done by men/women labeled as heroes. How many movies are out there where a cheek is turned to be slapped in kind as the first? How many movies relive the scenes where instead of revenge or blackmail, forgiveness is outpouring and voluminous?
A brother of mine led me to a gospel artist in whom I have come to enjoy a particular song of his. The song reminded me of the words of my maternal grandfather. My grandfather stated that if you had a burden that vexed you greatly, let everyone you know share in it. He meant that I should tell everyone about it. His logic was that the greatest part of the burden was the secret. Secondly he would claim that by telling many, there may be an opportunity for a solution from those who you have told as well as compassion from the same. The song that reminds me of that lesson began like this;
Tonight as you stand at the altar,
I want you to know that you’re already forgiven.
Many came down for many different reasons,
But whatever your reason is, Jesus said,
“I am come that you might have life”.
So take a minute and forgive yourself, because the bible says,
“That there is therefore now no condemnation, to them which are in Christ Jesus”
Clap your hands if you know the guilt is gone, it’s gone.
It was spoken in a manner akin to preaching, which gave it a dynamic that was relative to its core meaning. I have never suffered under the yoke of a secret and I pray you as reader’s never do. I also have not told every bit of information pertaining to me to everyone, and I pray you never do. Yet I have consistently unburdened myself to many who have helped me along the way. My peace in life is a result of this. I fear no one from my past, present or future. I cannot be held hostage because I have been held accountable. I cannot be manipulated, because I have been emancipated.
There are only two people whose forgiveness you must seek. The first is the Lord Jesus Christ. This one is mandatory and has already been exclaimed to be part and parcel of our faith and our relationship with Christ. This is the essence of Christ’s Godhood. For what other reason did God sacrifice His only begotten, but to redeem, save and wash our sins from us? The entire bible is based upon the Father-Son relationship, which then gives life to the Son-man relationship. This is the relationship founded upon forgiveness. The second person that is essential in your forgiveness is you. As much as is said amongst the brethren of the house of Faith, we still eat our young and fear our kind. In this area I am not too fearful to speak. If you are a Christian and you are behaving contrary to scripture towards me, you will hear me exclaim this truth. I will do so without hesitation because I believe it is as important for you as for me.
Ephesians 4:14-16
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
A brother of mine whom I spent much time with was with me as I vied for a spot at the US Open regional qualifying. During a practice round I was mentally spent and performing poorly. My experience was that I would shut it down, regroup and recharge and come out again the next day. This type thinking was contrary to my friend’s experience which incorporated an at all cost, go for it mentality. This mentality was not foreign to me as many coaches had instilled this with me in various sports programs. The problem was not the challenge it brought to me, it was that our relationship had transcended sports and worldly machinations. We had ascended to a strong relationship in Christ and I was not able to go back to where that inquiry toward my resolve would have been easily digested. This caused a riff between us that was felt by us both. What is beautiful about the Lord is, the bond was indeed there because we play golf together weekly and our relationship is stronger. I truly respected him for attempting to push me as he knew how, as much as I respected him for understanding that with Christ, the push with me was not needed. I love him for what he offers me as a friend and as a Christian. We have been truthful with one another, and it’s a freedom and a trust that is not attainable without truth.
If we could see things as they are--if we were not deceived by the masquerade of this poor life--if we were not so easily taken in by the masks and dresses of those who act in this great drama, be it comedy or tragedy--if we could but see what the men are behind the scenes, penetrate their hearts, watch the inner motions, and discern their secret feelings, we should find but a few who could bear the name of "blessed."
C.H Spurgeon
Relationships in the house of faith must be founded upon the relationship with Christ. A Christian cannot be suppressed by another who holds a secret if the relationship with Christ is of true faith. True faith reveals itself through its fruit and it is highly recognizable. True faith does not have a place in truth it will not go because of fear. It does not possess manipulative characteristics because of its giving nature.
Galatians 5
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
These behavior patterns are essential not only to self but for the entire house of faith. Is it possible that a church that brings forth this type fruit would attract people? Is there a vocation in life that would not welcome these traits? You must understand that God’s intention is for us to be at peace. To be at peace there must be joy. To have joy there must be love. That love comes from going through some things which bears witness to long suffering. Each and every one of us must instill in each and every one of us, the true meaning of who we are. We can talk all day about who we are, but to instill you must perform certain behaviors that depict who you are.
One can assume that I have moved away from the central topic of forgiveness being divine, but it is still relative as we moved closer to the center. We must forgive ourselves and believe wholly that God has forgiven us.
1 John 1
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Many Christians have heard this scripture and meditated on it, but have not been able to live it. There is a big difference in hearing this scripture and living this scripture. I can illustrate thusly;
There is a man in a small country town that had never gone to school and learned all the words he knew from the Word of God. This man believed with his whole heart that these words were true and knew nothing else. Then there is the scholar who spends his adulthood acquiring letter after letter behind his name. He would extrapolate theory after theory and manage information at alarming rates. Through this he is inspected by men to determine his worthiness to represent in whatever vocation he has chosen. With these two experiences which man would have an easier time with true faith?
Matthew 18
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Broken down to its essence, forgiveness is believing that you are forgiven. Once you have grabbed hold of that belief you are no longer susceptible to fear of a revealed secret, or someone using this as a means to control or curtail you. Without this belief fully intact, the fog of doubt and fear fails to lift. Constantly there is a feeling of being unsure because there is not a certainty of direction because the fog hinders visibility. Once that belief takes hold, the fog lifts and the direction is clear. True faith allows Christians to rise from shaky foundations to new heights and breadths in Christ.
Ephesians 3
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Hebrews 10
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised )
Just as the tiny pieces of dirt and rock make up the mountains and the mountains together make up the mountain range, so the trivial actions of our lives make up the whole life and each of these must be pulled apart separately. You had an hour to spare the other day--what did you do? You had a voice--how did you use it? You had a pen--you could use that--what
did you write? Each particular shall be brought out, and there shall be demanded an account for each one.
C.H Spurgeon
Take heed my brethren that God and His edicts are not what you think they are, they are what He said they are.
Quotes about forgiveness
The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise.
Alden Nowlan
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was YOU.
I can forgive, but I cannot forget, is only another way of saying, I will not forgive. Forgiveness ought to be like a cancelled note--torn in two, and burned up, so that it never can be shown against one.
Henry Ward Beecher
When you hold resentment toward another, you are bound to that person or condition by an emotional link that is stronger than steel. Forgiveness is the only way to dissolve that link and get free.
Catherine Ponder
It is very easy to forgive others their mistakes; it takes more grit and gumption to forgive them for having witnessed your own.
JESSAMYN WEST:
Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.
SIDNEY AND SUZANNE SIMON:
