|
“Forgiveness”
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother and, then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5: 23–24 ESV). Forgiveness is the starting point in restoring relational harmony --- there are no enduring relationships without it. Truly forgiving means you have released someone from the debt they incurred when they hurt you. But forgiveness goes both ways, and we need to seek it as well as grant it. It is important to be intentional about pursuing forgiveness --- and it may be harder to ask someone to forgive you than it is to forgive them. We are not talking about a quick “sorry.” That has nothing to do with requesting forgiveness; it is just telling someone how you feel and not really giving them a chance to respond. |
The most effective (and sometimes most fear producing) way to gain forgiveness is to ask for it. Admit what you did wrong and then say only, “Will you forgive me?” And stop there. True forgiveness is sought with simply, “I was wrong. I have no excuse. Will you forgive me?”
Why is this so scary? Because we instinctively try to avoid putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. We are terrified of the moment when someone we love could look us in the eye and say, “No, I do not forgive you.” That response may be as painful as the hurt we caused them.
Jesus is clear that we are to take responsibility for the relational conflict we have caused. “First, be reconciled.” How can we approach the Lord when we have neglected the brokenness between ourselves and others? God does not receive our worship if He knows we have no intention of loving those closest to us. We can fool others; we cannot fool Him.
We need to ask for God’s help as we seek forgiveness and then pursue it wholeheartedly. There are no enduring relationships without it.
Click here for Mandarin translation.
Because He Lives,
Pastor Dave
[email protected]
Why is this so scary? Because we instinctively try to avoid putting ourselves in a vulnerable position. We are terrified of the moment when someone we love could look us in the eye and say, “No, I do not forgive you.” That response may be as painful as the hurt we caused them.
Jesus is clear that we are to take responsibility for the relational conflict we have caused. “First, be reconciled.” How can we approach the Lord when we have neglected the brokenness between ourselves and others? God does not receive our worship if He knows we have no intention of loving those closest to us. We can fool others; we cannot fool Him.
We need to ask for God’s help as we seek forgiveness and then pursue it wholeheartedly. There are no enduring relationships without it.
Click here for Mandarin translation.
Because He Lives,
Pastor Dave
[email protected]
