Finding Forgiveness – Part 5

DAILY BYTE

But even after a whole week of focussing on the issue of forgiveness, you may still be struggling with it. Let me encourage you not to give up on that struggle because it is very important. You may not have reached a place of complete forgiveness but the very fact that you are striving really does mean something. In his book, ‘Letters to Malcolm’, C.S. Lewis wrote these words, "Last week in prayer, I discovered, or least think I did, that suddenly I was able to forgive someone that I had been trying to forgive for over thirty years."

We all know that forgiveness can be incredibly difficult at times. We know how difficult it can be to hand over that which grips our heart and seemingly won’t let go of us! So let’s just say straight up that there are no magic formulas or potions and there are no easy routes to forgiveness, instead like everything else in life, there is only choice. And what greater gift can Christians choose to give the world than the passing on of a gift so generously given to us – the legacy of extravagant and gracious forgiveness for all.

Make no mistake – it is a costly gift – it will cost us our pride, our right to be wounded, and probably much time and effort, but it is so necessary. For Jesus made it plain that in this case it is only in the giving that we will receive. In other words, in order to find forgiveness we have to first share it!

Jesus leaves us in no doubt that forgiveness is a law of God as fundamental to healthy life as is remembering to breathe, or to eat and drink. Forgiveness is a choice that begins and ends in the inspiration of God’s gift of forgiveness and Jesus reminds us through this parable to never forget what has been done for us by God. That the vast debt we owed God (a debt bigger than any human’s ability to deal with – remember the parable) has been totally and utterly forgiven through Christ on the cross. Never forget what has been done for us. Never!

For as difficult as forgiveness undoubtedly can be, the truth of the matter is that forgiveness is not only necessary for us to be free and alive but fundamental to all life itself. So perhaps the only hope for the future of our children is that we learn to break any chains of ‘ungrace’ and instead pass on to them that which has been so graciously poured down upon us by our Father in heaven – forgiveness and all the freedom, life and love that comes along with it.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Lord our God, we do pray that we would find inspiration to forgive in the forgiveness you have lavished upon us all. Even if we have to wake up every morning, and forgive the same person again and again, we pray that you would give us the strength, will and persistence to do so. For we know that we find forgiveness by sharing it out with others. In Jesus name. Amen.

FOCUS READING

Read the whole Matthew 18:21-35 in your Bible.

(V35) "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart."