Forgiveness
"Father, I thank You for the people in my life who seem to bring more pain than joy, for I believe You have let our paths cross for important reasons."
(Ruth Myers, "31 Days of Praise" Day 20, p86)
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
In my prayer time this morning, I first read out of Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling", a daily devotional. It was, through the voice of Jesus, talking about confession to Him, about His love, forgiveness, His healing and restoration. It was about not hiding our sins and not wallowing in darkness, but letting Christ's light into our lives through being clothed in His righteousness.
This is a wonderful, peaceful truth, and I sat there confident that there was nothing on my heart to confess in the moment - that I could wrap myself in that light and be comfortable in His grace...
...Until I got to reading day 20 of Ruth Myer's "31 Days of Praise," which also happened to be about forgiveness...but it was not Christ's forgiveness of us, it was our forgiveness of others. Suddenly I realized I had a lot to confess, as I struggle in my heart over a particular person whom I feel has deeply wronged me. Thing is, I thought I have forgiven this person, as I have let go much of the bewilderment and anger...but what Ruth brings up in her praise of the day takes forgiveness to a level that goes beyond simple acceptance of the wrongdoing. She says stuff like:
"Thank You too that You love these people, and that Your love is adequate to meet their deep needs and transform their lives...Thank You that You care for them deeply, and that each of them has the potential of being a vast reservoir from which You could receive eternal pleasure...and so I give thanks for them by faith, trust in Your goodness, Your wisdom, Your power, and Your love for them as well as for me." (p86-87)
Hmmm. Actually praise God for someone who as wronged me? And ask Him to BLESS them? This seemed a much harder task. In the moment, I resonated more with Old Testament stuff - like how a wrongdoing would cause trouble, for penance.
But...then what of me? Am I so perfect, so blameless? I go back to Sarah Young's devotional, how Christ actually died for my wrongdoings, and asked the Lord to forgive us as He hung suffering on the cross. How is it so easy for us to get on our knees and ask for His forgiveness, and yet so difficult to do the same for others? How could I be so comfortable sitting there feeling blameless before Him, when I hold resentment in my heart for someone else? Ephesians 4:31-32 states:
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
It still may be difficult for me to achieve this, but my perspective is different. The Bible even tells us that we cannot be forgiven unless we forgive others:
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:14-15)
So my praise report for today is: Lord, thank You for Your forgiveness, for Your unfathomable example of wiping away all debt and grievances. Thank you for the challenge to forgive others. Indeed, You must have our paths cross with those with whom we have difficult relationships for an important reason, because it teaches us the depth of love, grace, mercy, and peace that is given to us through Christ Jesus, and that which we will also receive through the act of cancelling the debt of others in our lives. Lord I thank you for seeing my own failures and frailty through others...and the more compassion I have on the shortcomings of us all, the more I am able to receive Your blessed gifts and be in closer relationship with others and with You.
Learn more about the 31 Days of Praise!
Resources:
- Ruth Myers, "31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew", Multnomah Books, 1994
- Sarah Young, "Jesus Calling", Thomas Nelson Publishing, 2004