”Give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven
our debtors. And lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:11-13 ESV).
Forgiveness
is such a difficult thing. Even little offenses can immobilize us, forcing us
to dwell in an unforgiving land of perceptual intensity and obsession over the
offense. Eventually, failing to forgive fills us with resentment, contempt and
hatred. It becomes a much bigger bitter
plant of twists and complications that will grow from the bitter root of
un-forgiveness at the time of the initial offense (Hebrews 12:5). In
encouraging us to forgive, Jesus desires that we be released from the bondage
of the place that would torment and can eventually destroy us. How can we not forgive when God has forgiven
us through Christ? We all come to the cross the same way. We come as sinners
condemned appealing for mercy and grace. We all come, needing forgiveness. In all our
relationships we will need forgiveness in order to for the relationship to
nurture, sustain and grow.
Jack
Hayford states it this way, "Un-forgiveness binds us to the circumstances,
allowing the circumstances and the offense to become an undesirable focus and
remain a perceptual problem."
If
we look at forgiving others a certain number of times, we will end up in the
same immobilized place over and over again. If we look at offenses in the terms
of justice, we will seek to extract or administer revenge, which is never
satisfied. Our only hope out of the damaged place where we feel hurt and offence
is to forgive the person that hurt and offended us. Jesus gives us the parable of the Unforgiving
Servant as a story so that we may see ourselves and be spared the fate of
un-forgiveness. Jesus gives us real hope
that is found only in releasing the offence.
It isn't enough to see true freedom is truly found in forgiveness, we
must forgive to have it. Our freedom is
found in the graceful forgiveness of God towards us and we must never forget
that our forgiveness from God is related to our forgiving others.
And
should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’
And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all
his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not
forgive your brother from your heart” (Matthew 18:33-35 ESV).
Daily
Reading … Matthew 6 & Matthew 18
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