The snow in the backyard is getting deep. The corner where the
barbeque, the spare patio blocks and some other goodies got left for the
winter has taken on a surreal look. They are no longer identifiable as
individual objects; they have become a strange shaped mound of snow. The
round patio table now looks like a giant snow cake a couple of feet thick.
With the exception of the table and the barbeque and the table that
aren't buried yet, you would have a difficult time guessing what the
individual items are by their shapes. They have lost the form of the original
and become something different. None of the items would be usable until I
spent some time digging them out from their snow piles.
The same happens when we harbor un forgiveness in our hearts. You see
un forgiveness doesn’t destroy all at once. It starts as something easily
removed, but over time it grows. It covers, it hides, it buries. In time it
can change the shape of who we are so that we're not even recognizable.
I know a woman who is sweet, caring and a delight to be around. Or
perhaps I should say used to be. Many years ago, she was hurt in a divorce
and left to struggle through some very difficult times. She's never been able
to forgive those hurts and in fact seems to nurture her hurting heart.
Perhaps she doesn't know she does it, perhaps she does it so that she won't
be hurt again. Now she's vulgar, coarse, bitter and hard to be around for
long periods of time. You seldom see even a glimpse of the sweet person who
is inside.
It's no wonder Scripture puts so much emphasis on letting things go, on
forgiving and on setting bitterness aside.
We ask for forgiveness and pledge to forgive when we say the Lord's
Prayer
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven
our debtors. Matthew 6:12 NIV
We're told to explicitly told to forgive by Christ
For if you forgive men when they sin against
you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive
men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew
6:14-15 NIV
Forgiveness doesn't have a statute of limitations or a maximum limit.
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how
many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven
times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven
times.
Forgiveness like love is an action; it's not a feeling. It doesn't
matter whether you feel like loving someone, or feel like forgiving them, the
truth is that as followers of Christ we are called to do it.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and
dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever
grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave
you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together
in perfect unity.
You have a choice to make. Let go of those things as God has commanded
or be buried beyond recognition in your own bitterness and rebellion. What
will you do?
Until next time, I pray you take the step of forgiving those who have
hurt you, especially those that don't deserve it, after all Christ forgave
you and I when we didn't deserve it. You can do it in the power of Christ’s
love and for the glory of the Lord.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)!
Kevin
