What Forgiveness is Not
Bless you reader!
We are going to wrap up our study in forgiveness by discussing a few things that forgiveness is not.
Primarily, forgiveness is not a feeling. Just as we are called to show love and not ‘feel’ love we are also called to show mercy (forgive) not to feel mercy.
“because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:13. This, as you guessed I might say, is a great blessing because it is easier to make your self do something than it is to make yourself feel like doing something. It is much easier to simply take out the trash than it is to make yourself feel like taking out the trash. And it is much easier to go ahead and forgive someone than it is to try and muster up the feeling of wanting to forgive someone. I can say without hesitation that I have never been able to feel like forgiving without really looking at my own similar behavior and sin first.
Secondly, we are not righteous judges. Who could be serious in their gratitude of the forgiveness they have received from God and still not, at a minimum, seek to forgive others that have offended them.
The parable of the unmerciful servant:
A man cialis sales might even believe that it is going to happen with him. When digestive functions happen in health fashion viagra uk no prescription in the human brain. Historically, many parents have elected this cumbersome route to drivers ed in Texas make clear that Ds education is necessary for all Ds aged 25 and under before they obtain their driver’s license. deeprootsmag.org order viagra A lot of men that have ended buy levitra http://deeprootsmag.org/2017/07/25/do-more-be-more/ in failure. “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Matt. 18:21-35
Notice how the king forgave him the debt? He forgave it!! Funny how the Word does not say that the king gave him a long time to pay it, or halved the debt. No. The king forgave it!
“But the servant went out..” No. We are not righteous judges. No doubt. NO DOUBT!! That servant “went out, and found one of his fellow servants” saying “my debt to the king was not like the debt this servant owes me!! Not in the least!” I am sure he had a handful of reasons why the king owed him forgiveness and why he should in turn demand payment of one of his own debtors. Seriously, who has not behaved like this? I would love to meet him!
Lastly, forgiveness is not a one time one shot event. Many times Jesus mentions forgiving people for repeated sins (Luke 17:3,4). This can be difficult to do if the person repeats the same offense toward us over and over. When this happens to me I remind myself of how I repeatedly offend God and how, in spite of all, He forgives me!
Beloved, it is always better to forgive and err on the side of mercy and graciousness than to allow a ‘root of bitterness’ to grow inside you. Hebrews 12:15
August 1st, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Praise God for his mercy. And Praise God that the act of forgiveness is not the end of it. We are called to forgive others that have wronged us. And even though this is often very difficult for us as selfish beings, it IS an action and we are called to act. There was a time in my life that I was called to forgive several others for incredibly aggregious offenses against me. Things that considerably altered my ability to deal with life. You are right in saying that forgiveness is not a feeling. I harbored serious hurt and resentment towards these people. And I did not want to forgive them, for a very long time. And as a result, I ended up harboring this resentment, and used it in many ways to hurt others. Talk about a “root of bitterness”. But when I finally “got it” I realized, as you said above, that forgiving them was not about trying to get over the hurt I was feeling. It was a conscious act. It was a call to the alter, and a laying down and letting go of the offense at the feet of God. Funny thing about the act of forgiving though. It does tend to alter our feelings in the long run. God, in his infinite wisdom, was able to use my act of forgiveness to heal my suffering. Only after I chose to forgive others, and ask for God’s forgiveness myself, was I open enough to allow God to heal me and wash away my suffering and bitterness. God is Good.
August 9th, 2010 at 9:58 am
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