I Forgive You....(maybe)...

(This is rather long but I truly feel we all need to hear this - PLEASE READ)

Forgiveness is what God has been really speaking to me about lately. We’ve all been there; someone offends you or says something stupid and you feel that rise up in you, unforgiveness which if left unchecked leads to bitterness. How is it that we claim to be Christ-like yet we can still hold grudges against others? There’s a disconnect of some sorts and if this is the case then we are not being completely honest with ourselves. Oh sure, we go through the motions of going to church and putting on a happy face when we’re around the person we have the problem with but in the end we still are holding something against them; why?? Then we start to spout off excuses, “well, you don’t know what they did to me…” or “I’ve forgiven them, I just haven’t forgotten...” and my all-time favorite, “I’ve forgiven them, I just don’t want to be around them...”  

I’ve been around church and church-going-folk for a while with my Dad and Grandfather being evangelical Preachers/Pastors let’s just say I’ve seen the darker side of church and church people. I’ve seen situations where I am left scratching my head and holding my Bible saying, “Where’s the grace in that?” We tend to be so quick to cut someone out of our life and I just can’t see how that could be God’s purpose for His church. I am always led back to a sobering truth, thank God that Jesus wasn’t this way. Can you imagine if he had not talked to the woman at the well because she had been married multiple times and because she wasn't married to the man she was currently living with? Or what if Jesus  didn't want to be around Peter anymore after he (Peter) had denied him (Jesus)? The one that really gets me is; let's imaging that Jesus did all he did, went to the cross, forgave our sins, but said, “I forgive you but I won’t forget it and I plan on holding this over your head for the rest of your life.” This mentality is how many of us operate but it’s completely contrary to scripture and the nature of Christ. 

I like what Joyce Meyer says regarding the topic of forgiveness. She says, “How many teachings on Forgiveness are you going to have to hear before you start forgiving others?” Meaning, we know that we need to forgive others, we say we forgive others, but are we actually walking out that forgiveness? I’ve seen relationships, churches and families torn apart from unforgiveness and most of us can recall seeing the aftermath of unforgiveness at one time in our lives. So knowing that how do “Christians” allow this to take a place in their life?

The  truth is I don’t have an answer for this. I’ve been there at various times in my life so I know what it feels like. Pissed off at the world and holding grudges at anyone and everyone that had ever wronged me. Then one day God spoke very quietly within me and said, “What if I was like that towards you?” Ever since that day I’ve found it fairly easy to look past the offenses of others and believe me it has happened more that once. The bottom line is this, we all will stand before God and give an account of our lives one day (2 Corinthians 5:10) and yes even you, and the Bible also says that in order for you to be forgiven you must forgive others (Luke 6:37). At that point when you’re standing before the Creator of all things; what exactly do you plan on telling Him?

Take Care & God Bless,

-E