Forgiveness: to give up resentment against or the desire to punish, pardon
(an offense or offender).
Forgiveness seems to be a topic that I think all of us have, are or will deal with at some point in time in our lives. It's an action that was done for each and everyone of us, yet for some reason the thing that saved us and freed us, is something that we ourselves are so resistant on giving to others.
"Our Lord bids us to forgive others, even as he asked his Father to forgive his executioners. Sometimes that seems the most difficult thing in the world, but it's necessary if we're going to find true peace. Anger and hatred hurt us, not the person we direct them at." This is so true!
When we have been hurt, and don't truly forgive, the end result is really only hurting and eating at us. When we honestly and humbly come before our Father and lay that hurt and pain at his feet, it is no longer ours to carry. Does that mean it just goes away, never to be heard of or seen again, NO. What it means is that after you lay the burden down at His feet, the moment it comes back to your mind and begins to burden you again, you immediately place it back in His hands. The problem is, we can be so quick to pick it back up, to continue to hold on to, something that wasn't meant for us. Which then brings us back to the simple fact that if we would have forgiven and turned it over to God we wouldn't still be stumbling over all this hurt and resentment now.
There are times when we feel hurt by something someone has said or done, and whether or not they see it for what it is, what we can do and what we should do is offer forgiveness. Instead I feel like too many of us hold on to it, maybe even stubborn you could say, not backing down, thinking they need to pay for what they have done, why doesn't anyone else see it......come on I know you have thought one of those at some point in time, we are human you know.
In fact, as some of you read this, a person is coming to mind that you have been hurt by. Forgive, that's what you say I should do? They haven't even apologized for hurting me, they haven't even made an attempt at making things better, and you want me to forgive them? People need to know what they have done, people need to see them for who they are. How come I'm the only one suffering from this, why do they seem to be able to continue on living a normal happy life? They need to pay!
For ALL have sinned...He hates the sin but loves the sinner! We are all guilty of sin. At some point in time we have hurt someone, made a poor choice, etc. No sin is greater then another. Sin is Sin. Our Heavenly Father sent His son to come and die for our sins so that we might have life and have it more abundantly. It's for all who receive Him. It's for the old, young, not even born, the wife, husband, teacher, abuser, singer, murderer, movie star, molester, grocery store clerk, Dr, government officials, prisoner, the list goes. We have all sinned, we have all fallen short. Who are we to say that we are better then another or that their sin is greater then ours. We are all His children, we are all offered the same love and forgiveness. "Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good." Romans 12:21
Don't try to judge or place punishment upon those you think deserve it. "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1 Let our Father who is in Heaven who knows everything, every hurt, pain, tear and scar, let Him carry that burden. Love as He so loved us. "But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you." Matthew 5:44
"Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing. The scripture says, 'A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many happy days. He must not say evil things, and he must not tell lies'." 1 Peter 3:9-10
Lord, I pray for all those who have been hurt or who have hurt someone. Lord I pray for your forgiveness upon their heart and life. I pray that they would give that pain over to you that so deeply consumes them. I pray that as the person who they feel they have been hurt by appears in their lives that you would give them a heart like yours. That they would see that person as you see them. For we are all sinners, we all fall short, but it was by your blood that we have been set free. That are sins have been once scarlet, now they become white as snow as your forgiveness and love wash over them. Let us pray for those who have hurt us. Give us the strength and the peace that we will need to hand it completely over to you and to not pick up the burden another moment. Amen!
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