I’ve been challenged lately with the issue of true forgiveness and true love. I had a friend that challenged my heart a few weeks ago as she encouraged me in love. It’s always humbling to receive a kick in the pants, but sometimes needed. I ’m glad she did. One thing that she said that I’ve been thinking about is the following: (From 1 Cor 13:4, we know that) Love suffers long and is kind; God reached down and saved me when I was unlovely.  He didn’t save me because I was rich, He didn’t save me because I was beautiful, He didn’t save me because I was worth it.  He saved me because even though I was poor, ugly and unworthy, He loved me.  My salvation says nothing about me, it says everything about God.  He suffers my insults and hatred toward Him for long periods of time and yet continues to bless me with things I don’t deserve.  If someone mistreats me and I don’t show kindness in return, then it’s not love.  And I look just like them.”

 

I’ve been stewing on that for a few weeks now. It’s a challenge for me to love people who I’ve been hurt by in the past. It’s easy for the wound to reopen when I’m reminded of anything that randomly relates to that hurt. I wouldn’t be truthful to say that I instantly forget the wrongdoing. It’s something that has to be continually worked through in my life. But, when it comes to forgiveness, we don’t have a choice to forgive or not forgive. My husband one time asked forgiveness from someone. The response he received was, “I’ll think about it. It’ll take time.” Of course, it takes time to move past hurt, but forgiveness is NOT an option. We shouldn’t think we have any right to withhold forgiveness until the guilty party has amply proven themselves repentant. I think, however, that often times, as Christians we wrongly assume that and forget truth. The Bible is clear in the ramifications for those who don’t forgive. I was curious and looked the word “forgive” in the New Testament. There are 21 uses of the word.

 

8 of those instances show forgiveness as a two-way action. We forgive others as God forgives us…for example, “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.”

7 of those are used to show God forgiving us.

4 of those are used to speak on us forgiving others.

 

(There are 2 that I didn’t classify because they didn’t fit as much in these categories.)

 

Not coincidence. We are required to offer forgiveness in as much as we want to receive it from God. I’ve been really challenged by these thoughts lately and am praying that He will help me to ABUNDANTLY love and ABUNDANTLY forgive…just as He has done for me.

 

It’s just a thought. I usually keep my blogs light.  But it’s been on my mind and heart the past couple of weeks, so I’ve been itchin’ to share. Thanks to my friend for helping me grow.