Unexpected Truth – Forgiveness Is For Me sounds like a slam dunk. Who doesn’t want to be free? The reason people hold on to their guilt is a trouble topic.
People do say to me, Pastor Fred, how can I ever forgive?! Or this is a good one – I’m not ready to forgive. Not yet. Whether you enjoy snuggling up to the rage that burns in your heart or if you simply can’t imagine how it’s possible to forgive –
Unforgivable
1st – ask yourself why you think that your sins are that much more forgivable than others? Or maybe you’re one of those people who believe that everyone else’s sin is far more forgivable than yours? You can forgive others for killing your baby, but you can never forgive yourself. Jesus says it this way 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant – or yourself – just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. God says who do you think you are for withholding forgiveness?
Not Enough
2nd – When you refuse to forgive, you are telling God that you think so little of Jesus’ sacrifice that you can’t bring yourself to forgive. In essence you’re saying you don’t want his forgiveness. When we get to that point, go back and shudder one more time. See God’s love for you, then see yourself showing that love to yourself or someone else.
Decide to Forgive
It wasn’t complicated when the King forgave the servants debt – he made the decision and he did it. When you forgive, it’s no different. I’m not saying it will be pleasant or easy. I’m not saying that there won’t be sorrow or grief for the hurt that happened. When you forgive, you will let go of the anger and the desire to seek revenge and retaliation.
“About 30 members of the Amish community attended the “killers” funeral, and Marie Roberts, the widow of the killer, was one of the few outsiders invited to the funeral of one of the victims. Marie Roberts wrote an open letter to her Amish neighbors thanking them for their forgiveness, grace, and mercy. She wrote, “Your love for our family has helped to provide the healing we so desperately need. Gifts you’ve given have touched our hearts in a way no words can describe. Your compassion has reached beyond our family, beyond our community, and is changing our world, and for this we sincerely thank you.”
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s message from Matthew 18, Unexpected Truth – Forgiveness Is For Me.
Book(s): Matthew
Series: Unexpected Truths
Tag(s): Forgiveness
Speaker(s): Fred Guldberg