Forgiveness is a long and bumpy road, and it is one of the hardest things for us as humans to do. A lot of us are running around bitter and mad at the world because we are harboring unforgiveness in our hearts. But Christ is like the father of forgiveness. He forgave us when we didn’t deserve it, but His love goes farther than His anger for our sins. Are we willing to allow our love for people go beyond our anger and forgive? We know that is what Christ wants, are we willing to go there?
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus is speaking to the crowds of people in the sermon on the mount, when He tells them something shocking, He tells them to love their enemies, pray for their persecutors. What?! We’re supposed to love the people who hate us?! Sounds kind of crazy right? Loving the people we love will never love us back. Praying for the people who want to destroy us. It wasn’t as crazy a concept to Jesus, because that is what He was doing on Earth. Our sin makes us enemies of God, which made us enemies of Christ, but He came to save us anyway. Jesus loves the people He knows will never love Him back, but that doesn’t make Him love us or them any less. Jesus prayed on the cross for the people who were persecuting Him, the people that beat Him all night, spit on Him, punched Him in the face, and kicked Him, just because they could. The people who nailed His hands and feet to the cross, He prayed for them. Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34).
Can we do the same thing? Can we love the people who hate us? Forgive those who have hurt us? I don’t mean that surface level forgiveness, the kind that says, “I’ll forgive you, but I won’t forget”. I mean can we really forgive and let god of everything that someone has done to us?
I’ll be the first to say that this is a process and so hard to do. It’s hard to forgive someone when you are still reaping the pain, heartache, and consequences of what they have sewn. But sometimes we have to accept an apology we will never get, Jesus, didn’t wait for all of us to repent before giving up His life for us. He gave up Him life for us and it led to repentance. Forgiveness is not about the other person all the time. Most of the time it is for the hurting party. So that we can find closure, and move on. When we hold on to unforgiveness we walk around harboring a great burden, It’s like holding onto a hot coal with the intent of throwing it, we're the only ones who get burned. It’s a cliché saying I know, but it is beyond true. Life is much easier when we aren’t harboring unforgiveness in our hearts.
Reflection
- Is it hard for you to forgive?
- Are you harboring any unforgiveness in your heart?
- When you forgive people how does it make you feel?
Prayer Time
Talk to God about what’s going on in your hearts, and allow the answers to your questions lead and guide your prayer. Ask God to help you if you have any unforgiveness in your heart. Talk to HIm about loving your enemies, and praying for those who persecute you. Open up your heart to HIm, and listen to what He is saying.
I love you, I hope you have an amazing day or evening, make sure you share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 62!
No comments:
Post a Comment