Last Updated on September 16, 2022 by admin
Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about forgiveness
It’s one of the most talked about concepts in Christianity, and yet, it’s probably the hardest to get our hearts around.
As Christians, we are forgiven.
We get up every single day and we fall short of the glory of God.
Everyday-
Forgiven.
It’s easy to take forgiveness for granted when you have endless, boundless grace.
Honestly, it’s why we treat our mamas the worst on our bad days.
No one loves us more, even when we’re acting unlovable.
It’s why we allow our own children to see the worst sides of ourselves at home.
Endless grace.
Unconditional love.
But while we are wholly forgiven, there remains, in most of us, a splinter-
Often, many splinters that have burrowed deep within because they were never properly removed.
Now there is a sore place each time it’s rubbed or stepped on the wrong way.
We withhold forgiveness of others-
Sometimes, even over the most minor of grievances.
Why do we do that?
I guess it’s because it still hurts.
We let the splinter get infected.
And the infection spreads.
And instead of healing, we walk around diseased with anger or worse,
hatred.
It’s hard to heal past wounds.
It’s sometimes even harder to let go of petty grievances.
There is something so savory in holding on to that indignation.
But I believe there is something poignant in the lesson here-
The HARDEST thing on earth for us to do for others is FREELY poured out on us by Christ.
Let that sink in for a moment
And we are called, not to be perfect (for we’ve failed in that before we’ve begun), but to love and forgive others, just as we are forgiven and loved.
It’s the greatest biblical command,
And yet we fall short.
So I ask of you-
I ask of myself-
To wash the wounds, remove the plank, and allow the healing.
Don’t let it hurt you anymore.
Don’t hold onto it.
If a conversation needs to be had to heal, then have it.
If blind forgiveness is the only way forward, go ahead and lend the grace.
But whatever you do, don’t wallow in the hurt.
Don’t turn it to anger or self-righteousness.
Don’t let it poison you.
Give it to God, the Great Healer, the Forgiver, the Father.
It’s not yours anymore.
It never was.
Be kind and tender-hearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.… (Ephesians 4:32)
Recent Comments