FAITH & FORGIVENESS
Faith & forgiveness go hand in hand. When Jesus taught forgiveness, the subject of faith came up more than once. [see Mark 11:22-26]
Forgiveness is probably the most difficult act we do, as humans--it is a God-like trait to be forgiving. It is supernatural to forgive those who have offended us. Remember, among Jesus' last words on the cross--"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". It's a God thing. There have even been times when God didn't forgive, and He was justified in not forgiving; in fact God is justified in not forgiving any person past or present. Thankfully, His mercy overrides His justice in our behalf. He destroyed the world by a flood--saving only Noah and his family--He didn't forgive, then. He destroyed 24,000 of the children of Israel in a smiting plague [Numbers 25] because "they played the harlot" and joined themselves unto the daughters of Moab, and were enticed into idolatry--He didn't forgive then, at least not until Aaron's grandson avenged the act, in righteousness.
Only God has the right to withhold forgiveness. Only God has never offended. Only God is perfect in all of His ways.
Luke 17:1-5 is another discourse on forgiveness. Jesus explains both sides of forgiveness to His disciples. He speaks about the point of view of both the offended and the offender--and their responsibilities. To the offended He says, "Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come...Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him. And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled)."
To offenders, imbedded in those same verses, Jesus makes clear that they have the burden of hearing reproof from the one that he offended, and being contrite for the offense "repenting" "turning to the offended" and asking ("saying") for forgiveness. The disciples exclaimed, "Lord, increase our faith!" Why? Because we're going to need faith to forgive and to seek forgiveness--it is an humbling thing to do both. You can't be prideful and do these things. You have to be willing to lay aside your rights, your resentment, your vengeance and not even listen to those who say you should never forgive your offender for that offense, Instead, faith says, because I have been so marvelously forgiven, it is my obligation to forgive. Faith also says, because I have been forgiven, I can't offend my brother and simply go to God and ignore my brother. It's the same as love--how can I say that I love God when I have not even seen God, and hate my brother that I can see (my paraphrase of 1 John 4:20)? Our love for God is most vividly acted out in our love and acts of love and compassion to those we can see and touch. It is imperative that we rebuild the bridge of love and trust that has been broken when we offend others. It is just as important to do this as it is to forgive. That is why we need so much faith to do it.
I know, in this modern age that we live in faith is supposed to be used for everything but the spiritual--or at least it seems that way. We believe God for the things that affect the physical man, but faith is for the spirit. Faith is a tool that God has provided to keep us safe and deliver us home--into everlasting life. Faith is to mature us as Christians and warriors, not to give us everything we want, but to grow in Him--to become more like Him.
Forgiveness is a mountain--we don't have to climb it. We can speak to it (unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, wrath) in us, and it will be uprooted like a small molehill and cast into the midst of the sea of forgetfulness. Just ask; God will provide you with the faith that you need to get the job done, as soon as your heart is willing. Grace is such an excellent gift--God provides everything we need to live righteously, in this world--all we have to do, is give Him our heart.
Have faith in God.
Forgiveness is probably the most difficult act we do, as humans--it is a God-like trait to be forgiving. It is supernatural to forgive those who have offended us. Remember, among Jesus' last words on the cross--"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". It's a God thing. There have even been times when God didn't forgive, and He was justified in not forgiving; in fact God is justified in not forgiving any person past or present. Thankfully, His mercy overrides His justice in our behalf. He destroyed the world by a flood--saving only Noah and his family--He didn't forgive, then. He destroyed 24,000 of the children of Israel in a smiting plague [Numbers 25] because "they played the harlot" and joined themselves unto the daughters of Moab, and were enticed into idolatry--He didn't forgive then, at least not until Aaron's grandson avenged the act, in righteousness.
Only God has the right to withhold forgiveness. Only God has never offended. Only God is perfect in all of His ways.
Luke 17:1-5 is another discourse on forgiveness. Jesus explains both sides of forgiveness to His disciples. He speaks about the point of view of both the offended and the offender--and their responsibilities. To the offended He says, "Temptations (snares, traps set to entice to sin) are sure to come...Pay attention and always be on your guard [looking out for one another]. If your brother sins (misses the mark), solemnly tell him so and reprove him, and if he repents (feels sorry for having sinned), forgive him. And even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and turns to you seven times and says, I repent [I am sorry], you must forgive him (give up resentment and consider the offense as recalled and annulled)."
To offenders, imbedded in those same verses, Jesus makes clear that they have the burden of hearing reproof from the one that he offended, and being contrite for the offense "repenting" "turning to the offended" and asking ("saying") for forgiveness. The disciples exclaimed, "Lord, increase our faith!" Why? Because we're going to need faith to forgive and to seek forgiveness--it is an humbling thing to do both. You can't be prideful and do these things. You have to be willing to lay aside your rights, your resentment, your vengeance and not even listen to those who say you should never forgive your offender for that offense, Instead, faith says, because I have been so marvelously forgiven, it is my obligation to forgive. Faith also says, because I have been forgiven, I can't offend my brother and simply go to God and ignore my brother. It's the same as love--how can I say that I love God when I have not even seen God, and hate my brother that I can see (my paraphrase of 1 John 4:20)? Our love for God is most vividly acted out in our love and acts of love and compassion to those we can see and touch. It is imperative that we rebuild the bridge of love and trust that has been broken when we offend others. It is just as important to do this as it is to forgive. That is why we need so much faith to do it.
I know, in this modern age that we live in faith is supposed to be used for everything but the spiritual--or at least it seems that way. We believe God for the things that affect the physical man, but faith is for the spirit. Faith is a tool that God has provided to keep us safe and deliver us home--into everlasting life. Faith is to mature us as Christians and warriors, not to give us everything we want, but to grow in Him--to become more like Him.
Forgiveness is a mountain--we don't have to climb it. We can speak to it (unforgiveness, resentment, bitterness, wrath) in us, and it will be uprooted like a small molehill and cast into the midst of the sea of forgetfulness. Just ask; God will provide you with the faith that you need to get the job done, as soon as your heart is willing. Grace is such an excellent gift--God provides everything we need to live righteously, in this world--all we have to do, is give Him our heart.
Have faith in God.
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