Forgive. How that word used to make
me cringe. “Forgive them, forget it happened, and move on.” It’s like saying,
“you’re just a punching bag; a door mat. If others run all over you, just
accept it. That’s the way the authority chain works.” -At least, that’s what I
heard. Recently, I heard a sermon on
forgiveness that made me re-think the whole idea.
In the first part of Luke 17, Jesus
addresses the idea of offenses. He reminds His disciples that it is impossible
to live life without being offended. (There is sin and pain in this world.)
Jesus warned the offenders by saying it would be better for them to drown than
to hurt one of God’s children. Then, Jesus warns the offended party to forgive
and restore his brother.
In this instance, Jesus says, if
they repent, forgive them. No questions asked. No stipulations. -Even if they
hurt you again. Peter came to Jesus to ask Him what His intent was in this
command. Is seven times the limit, and after that “let ‘em have it?” Matthew 18
gives the answer. Not seven times in a day, but seventy times seven; or, until
you quit counting how much they’ve offended you. What? Their offense means
nothing to God?
Jesus explained as He often did,
with a story. Stop right now, and go read the story in Matthew
18:21-35.
So
often, when I read the story of the Unjust Servant, I find myself comparing my
sins to that of my offender. “Well, God hasn’t really had to forgive me of near as much as him…” Get real. That’s
not the point. The point is value.
Forgiveness
at its simplest is love. Not the world’s wishy-washy kind of love. No. A real
love. The kind that came from heaven and died, knowing He would be rejected by
the very people whom He wished to help.
A
Stradivarius violin is not only rare, but it is priceless. -Well, at least
worth way more than I could ever afford. No amount of dust, broken strings, or
dent is going to bring it into my price range. It is still considered valuable.
All it needs is a little TLC, polish, new strings, and maybe a little fixing,
and it is good as new.
Jesus
Christ put the price-tag on every human being; and it is WAY out of our range.
The blood of the Innocent, Perfect, Son of God. The “dirt” and sin doesn’t
change the price. With God’s love, they are good as new, and stand before Him
blameless, just as you and I.
That is what forgiveness is about. Forget comparing their faults to yours, or keeping track (up to 490) how many times you are offended. Romans 8 says, “It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again.” Jesus died for that person (not you). Their value hasn’t changed. Therfore, I must forgive. But it can't come from within me. I can forgive as Jesus loves them through me. Now when I think "forgive," I can smile instead of cringe.
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Jessica