Red Wednesday's Wisdom - Forgive

As my family goes through a very challenging and emotional time, the word forgive is constantly resonating in my spirit. In fact, when I look back over the past 17 years, I can say that forgiveness has been a pretty dominant theme for me. There have been numerous times when I have really wrestled with knowing how to walk out my decision to forgive another. In my head, I have known that I am to excuse another’s fault or offense against me. But, how does my heart convey love without feeling anger or resentment? How do I respond rather than react, especially when the offensive behavior remains a constant in my life? How do I demonstrate love?

The only way I have ever been able to grasp any kind of answer to these questions is to look to the cross for my Example. Jesus is the epitome of what it means to love and forgive in the midst of every kind of evil. I can not begin to comprehend or truly appreciate the agonizing and passionate position that Jesus assumed for all of mankind, but that is the kind of love that God has for each and every one of us. In the heat of the moment, and in the presence of my worst enemy, I do not feel like I want to forgive. But… it is the crucifixion that empowers me to do so!

God tells us in Romans 3:10 that we are all born as sinners. All of us have deeply hurt and offended God, and in turn, we have offended and hurt ourselves and each other. Not one of us is better than another. And despite all of our unloving actions, Jesus never stops loving us. He demonstrated that love by becoming the sacrificial lamb that always forgives you and me!

When I need to forgive, I know that I have to go to that cross. It is at the cross that I can hear Jesus saying these dying words to His Father, “Father, forgive these people because they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:24). And then, like a mantra, I play those words over and over in my head so that I too can think more like Jesus, so that I can say, “Father, help me to forgive my offenders who do not know what they are doing.” When I think and speak those words I am being humbled. And I am reminded of when I did not know what I was doing. By taking on the mind-set of Jesus and believing in His Word, I am better prepared to avoid those feelings of hurt and anger. I can then put the burden of a relationship into God’s hands and depend on Him to show me how to think and love His way.

When I need to forgive, I also depend upon The Lord’s Prayer to guide me. It is the prayer that Jesus taught to His disciples so that they would know how to pray. When I say The Lord’s Prayer, it reinforces my need to forgive as Jesus directs me to do in Mark 6:12, “and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” In my desire to be forgiven I must be willing to extend that forgiveness to another.

Please forgive me, you are going to be getting the rest of this Forgiveness Post next week!