In The Fullness Of Forgiveness…
2 Corinthians 2:9-11 (New International Version)
9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Yesterday I was having a pretty serious conversation with my children. It was a conversation that no parent hopes that they have to have, but if it is necessary to have you do with compassion, understanding and care. My children like so many others are a product of a broken home, not once, but twice. The pain that comes as a result of this action can be devastating and overwhelming. You find mistrust and anger seem to sometimes become their companion, because they don’t always know the road to forgiveness, and even if they find the road it is sometimes hard for them to walk the path without encouragement and reasoning to find healing. My children although they have a mother, who has prayed for them, loved them and encouraged them, are no different. The issues that they face still challenge them to see passed the offences to the person, and to love them in spite of.
This is not just children, but so many of us as Christians, mature in our declaration and strong in our proclamation of the word, find ourselves walking in a place where we refuse to forgive. We are bound by our own hurts, offences and injustices felt, that we stay captured by the claws of unforgiveness. We see ourselves so much so that we become intolerant of others mistakes. But what if God took our attitude? What if God decided to be so offended and steadfast in His unwillness where would we be? We all would be receiving judgment that we deserve, but would rarely be able to endure. God for Christ sake has forgiven us. It was Jesus’ act of going to the cross and dying for you and I that afforded us the privilege of forgiveness, but it is our ability to forgive others that gives us access to forgiveness, as a means of renewal and eternal life. In the place where the fullness of forgiveness abides, there God’s love and compassion abides and it serves to remind us that “there but for the grace of God go I. It reminds us that our stuff really does stink and we do not have it all together as we often think we do, but in spite of that God desires us. It is also a place that serves as an alter where we can go to lay down our hurts, pains and offences and see God’s mercy and grace, the mercy and grace that He has shown us and the mercy and grace that we should show to others.
As you start this Wednesday, the middle of our work week, ask yourself this question, have you been abiding in the fullness of forgiveness? If you know you have been, then ask yourself have you been extending the fullness of forgiveness to others. If the answer is no, it is time to change your plan of forgiveness; because God requires of us to give what He has given to us, especially in the area of forgiveness. It is time to step it up and learn to forgive in a whole new way knowing that God forgives us in a way where...it is new every morning!
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