People mess up all the time, at some point, you will either be the forgiver or the forgiven.
Just like a tree, the wrongs are like deep and unhealthy roots which will ultimately destroy the tree. The bad roots are not easy to get rid of especially for a mature tree; this requires patience, persevere and hard work to succeed.
Forgiveness is about finding ways to let go of the wrongs, releasing them from us in order to allow new and healthy roots to come through. It is about focusing on what the tree itself should look like, and fully destroying the bad roots.
According to the Bible, God made a promise to let go of our wrongs (not counting our sins), but instead focused on loving us and cleansing us of our sins. However, in order for us to actually realise the benefits of this forgiveness, we have to play our part in letting go of (surrendering) the old sinful us by realising that God has forgiveness us.
We might end up with scars in the process, but these scars are only a sign that we have come through to the other side.
Why should we forgive?
Because we were forgiven first (Luke 23v34) - “Father forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.”
We all belong to a large dysfunctional family – the weaker/younger Joseph got sold by his brothers, later, the stronger/powerful Joseph chose to forgive, and was better for it.
It is a poison that eats you away from the inside - it will destroy you!
Results in healing, peace and freedom for the forgiver and the forgiven
We pray it (Matthew 6v12) – “Forgive our sins as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.”
Don’t dwell on the wronged past, you can’t change it!
Anger boils up, reacts negatively, and destroys.
Mercy and Grace
Rom 2v3-7
Be merciful to others the way Christ is to us (we don't get what we deserve)
Be gracious (we get what we don’t deserve)
Romans 5v6-8
6 Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.
Comments