Many of God’s gifts’ to us have been twisted by our simple minds and lost in misconception. I think if we all took a good moment to sit down and think about that, we could come up with a good long list. However what has been standing out to me at the moment is the twisting of the gift of F O R G I V E N E S S.
Most of the time we think of forgiveness as the gift we can bestow on others who have wronged us, a gift towards them. For example, when I was younger if I disobeyed my mother she would often give me “grace” rather than punishment, (which I deserved). In doing this she was introducing me to God’s grace, and how he forgives when we are undeserving. But I didn’t quite understand that yet. I saw “grace” or “forgiveness” as this way out of a bad situation, something I knew I didn’t deserve but would give me a free pass out of a situation that I had got myself into. Even after doing wrong I would sometimes beg, “please give me grace”, not knowing the true beauty of it but seeing it as this “way out”. Obviously being a child, I didn’t have the capability of grasping the full meaning of a deep concept such as grace or forgiveness.. yet, it was and is such a deep and beautiful concept that it waged itself into my thoughts without me having the discipline to put it there myself. And I think that’s still how many people view forgiveness, as this thing that gives people this undeserved leniency, a pass on their transgression. Which it is, simply put, but it’s also so much more than that.
1. We know that God has already wiped away all our sins in his eyes, we know longer have to ask “what if?” because we can simply say it Is taken care of, it is forgotten, it is put to rest, because on the cross, when the perfect God brought himself down into flesh, then allowed Himself to be crucified, he forgave those in the midst of the process.
Luke23:33When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots. 35The people stood watching, and the rulers sneered at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
But instead of saving himself is lowered His head and said “It is finished.” As in your plan of salvation was finished. It is. And because of that there does not have to be limits to His forgiveness. In fact in His eyes there ARE NO LIMITS to His forgiveness, but, because we, limited minded beings cannot grasp his love, from the very beginning when Eve & Adam betrayed God we created our own limits. Instead of just accepting His gift we had to make it complicated. Therefore we have to do the hardest thing humanly possible. Admit.
2. Even though God doesn’t have limits, he gave us a conscience and a mind to decide things for ourselves (He wants us to choose him ourselves). With that we decided to disobey and therefor through the limited way that we created, we owe Him confession and repentance in trade for forgiveness. I know ‘confession’ is a really scary word to some, but it really just means admit!
1John1:8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…
Even after we admit to our wrongs to Him, which we owe Him, He does not owe us forgiveness, yet He chooses to gift it to us anyways because He loves so.
3. Forgiveness isn’t just something we receive it is something we are to give as well,
Colossians3:12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive any complaint you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
and this is where the confusion comes in. Our selfish minds see forgiveness for what is partially is, a gift of grace on others who have wronged us, and we do not think that they deserve it. Who are we to decide who is deserving and undeserving of grace? N O N E of us are. So don’t get cocky. If we were seeing forgiveness at it’s FULL beauty, we would see that our ability to give forgiveness is a gift to ourselves as much as it is to the person on the receiving end. For when we forgive, we ARE acting in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, therefore the result of acting in these powerful characteristics is to truly feel them. Don’t belittle God’s power of goodness and say that what He creates that is GOOD and RIGHTEOUS is not powerful enough to touch YOU whilst your are using IT to touch OTHERS. Forgiveness heals OUR hearts.
Anger, bitterness, hate, resentment.. these are not characteristics of God, and because they are not good (Which all things that are, come from God), they do not have the same power over others as good. Allowing anger and hate to control your feelings over an individual does not serve them right. It is not giving them right punishment. This is Satan trying to mislead us into thinking we ourselves have the power of God in serving righteous punishment. Trust me, God will take care of allllll in the end, he has promised that. IT IS FINISHED. Let God be the one to punish. Instead of allowing ourselves to be mislead, and having our mind poisoned with lies, just say NO to Satan! CHOOSE, forgiveness. Because it will bring YOU peace. It is not only about the recipient it is about YOU. Allow yourself to HEAL. Forgiveness is healing for your soul.
I continue to forget this time after time, because I am human and am going to mess up. But does that mean I give up on doing right? No. You keep trying. You do it for yourself. You forgive yourself. And you do it for God. Remember, he already laid out our plan of peace, we just have to accept it. Obey your God. He has the best interest in you. Do yourself the favor. Forgiveness is one of the silver platters serving you Peace.
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