The Grace of Forgiveness (Part 2)


“When you begin a journey of revenge, start by digging two graves: one for your enemy, and one for yourself.” Image credit

New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult wrote in “Nineteen Minutes,” “When you begin a journey of revenge, start by digging two graves: one for your enemy, and one for yourself.” Thus, to forgive is way much better than to have your revenge. 

We already saw what forgiveness is not. Now, let’s look at what it really is. (Again, I’m indebted to Pastor Ron Edmondson’s “7 Things Forgiveness IS” in writing this article.)[1]

First, forgiveness is “a choice.” You don’t wait to feel that you want to forgive. It’s a choice whether you feel like it or not. That’s why it’s commanded: “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25) Note that God the Father forgives when we forgive others. And the way we forgive will be the way He will forgive us: “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12. Emphasis added.)

Image credit

Second, forgiveness is “letting go of a right to get even” and “dropping resentment and grudge.” Somebody wrote that, “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and wishing for the other person to die.” According to Leviticus 19:18, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.” You don’t take revenge and you don’t hold grudges. You let go. 

Third, forgiveness is “the removal of a roadblock.” Pastor Edmondson wrote, “Forgiveness removes the barrier between us and living at peace again with ourselves, others, and God.” [2] God won’t answer the prayers of an unforgiving person. According to 1 Timothy 2:8, “I want everyone everywhere to lift innocent hands toward heaven and pray, without being angry or arguing with each other.” (CEV. Emphasis added.) 
Image credit


Fourth, forgiveness is “a step towards healing,” that is, a “moving forward.” When the offense was committed, the hurt was inflicted by others. When we refuse to forgive, the hurt is self-inflicted. We hurt ourselves again and again. And, hurt people hurt people. 
Forgiveness is like saying, “It hurt. I didn’t like it, but I’m moving forward with my life in spite of the pain.” … Forgiveness releases a weight from the shoulders of the injured, opening the door for emotions to heal. [3]
Forgiveness benefits the one who forgives more than the one who is forgiven. Why? Unforgiveness breeds a lot of other bad attitudes. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31) It’s not worth it.

Fifth, forgiveness is “an opportunity to display grace.” When we forgive, it shows that we ourselves have been forgiven. We give grace because we received grace. Ephesians 4:32 commands us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” 

Image credit

According to Pastor Edmondson, “There is no greater picture of God’s forgiveness of us than for us to forgive one another.” [3]
I know these are difficult. I know some of the pain runs deep. I can’t describe it for you adequately, but I can tell you that forgiveness IS all it’s claims to be. If you truly want to be free of the hold the injury has on your heart, forgive the one who injured you.[4]
“Grace” Step

Forgiveness is worth it. Unforgiveness is not worth it. Pray for people you need to forgive. Take steps to show them that you have already forgiven them.

NOTE: This is Day Four of the devotional guide (Volume 1, Issue 9) of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship, for the message on “Pass It On! (Part 4)” last April 26.  

[1] Ron Edmondson (2011, May 21), “7 Things Forgiveness IS,” Ron Edmondson, retrieved from http://www.ronedmondson.com/. 

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid. Italics his.

[4] Ibid. Emphasis his.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God Knows Judas Not Pay

In the National Geographic Magazine (May 2006 issue), in its cover story, The Judas Gospel , Professor Eliane Pagels of Princeton University claimed that the so-called gospel of Judas “ changes the history of early Christianity. ” Even UP Professor Randy David took notice of the Judas Gospel: “Strictly from a sociological standpoint, I think the discovery of the Gospel of Judas makes Christianity a far more interesting religion than what centuries of metaphysical theology has made of it.” (A Gospel for the Postmodern, Phil. Daily Inquirer, April 16, 2006) That’s why I spoke in our Young Pro Fellowship a few days ago on God Knows Judas Not Pay (A Biblical Response on the Judas Gospel). I believe opportunities like this hype on the Judas Gospel or the Da Vinci Code opens a door for us to share the true Gospel. For those who did not attend last Thursday, let me share briefly why we reject the Judas gospel. I came up with the acronym J-U-D-A-S. J udas was portrayed as a traitor in the Bibl...
Read more

“Ubus-ubos Biyaya, Bukas Nakatunganga”

Image
That’s what my mother always told us when we were still kids. (Translation: “You spend everything today, you will have nothing tomorrow.” ) Image source: So, What's New ? Dionie did just that. Last April 2008, he won PHP14,125,032 in the Lotto 6/42 draw. Excitedly, he “lived the life of a millionaire, something he had been longing to experience. He lived in a P4-million house in a posh subdivision, drove around in a sports utility vehicle [which he bought the very same day he claimed his prize] , and gave goodwill money, ranging P1,000 to P 850,000, to relatives and friends. He also gambled daily, womanized, and went on regular drinking sprees.” (Source: Manila Bulletin ) He estimated that he squandered a minimum of P100,000 almost every day. He also lent money even to people he did not really know. “I just gave them and told them not to pay me back.” (Ibid) His bank had to issue him a special card so he can withdraw huge amounts of money quickly from the automated teller m...
Read more

Detour, Not A Dead End

Image
A dead end is “an end of a road or a passage from which no exit is possible.” Image credit A dead end, according to a dictionary, is “an end of a road or a passage from which no exit is possible.”  According to another dictionary , it is “a situation, plan, or way of doing something that leads to nothing further.” Screenshot from Merriam-Webster online dictionary There were times in my life when I thought I was in a dead end.  Impasse. No way out. Caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. I was like Moses. There’s the Red Sea in front of me and the Egyptian army behind me. Only this time, I can’t part the sea.  I failed. Many times. My dreams became a nightmare. And my nightmare came to pass. (Of course, I can always blame others. The fact is, it’s not entirely my fault. But why waste time blaming? So, I’ll just take responsibility for where and why I failed.) I got burned out. I got myself into stress-related disorder when I pressure...
Read more