8-18-2020

 Good Morning All, 

     2 Corinthians 2:7; “So now forgive and comfort him. Such distress could overwhelm someone like that if he’s not forgiven and comforted.”

     “Oh, forgive me; I must have made a mistake.”  Maybe you have heard that before; I know that I have.  I have heard that when I got a phone call and the person wanted someone that I have never heard of.  I have heard this when someone took my cart in the grocery store.  I have used it in the same situations.  Most people do.  We use it as a semblance of a civil society; it represents the opposite of the “road rage mentality” that we see occasionally.  It is used to stave off an angry response.  It is easy to say and, for the most part, is easy to forgive.  We might exhale in exasperation as we either have had something broken or spilled or stepped on. 

    It seems so easy; one asks, and one responds, and life goes on.  It almost seems that it occurs with little, if any, thought.  There seems to be little, if any, emotional connection, and this is why we struggle with forgiveness.  Too often, we go through the actions of asking for forgiveness the same way whether it is for bumping into someone or we have caused real pain in a person’s life.

    Forgiveness is where Christianity differs from other religions.  It is also where the rubber meets the road, so to speak.  It is the core of our faith; it is who we are or at least claim to be.  Yet we struggle with both sides of the equation.  If someone hurts us, really hurts us; forgiveness can be the hardest thing to do.  I always counsel forgiveness what might surprise some is that I do not always counsel it right away.  If a spouse is unfaithful or abusive and causes the rupture of the marriage, forgiveness takes a while.  If a friend tells a major lie about you or does something to hurt your reputation, it can be exceedingly difficult to forgive.  We know these situations; maybe you have even experienced it.

    Forgiveness does two things.  First, it releases the control of the past upon our present and future.  If we keep looking back, especially at what hurts, we will often miss the blessings of today.  It leaves our future in the hands of someone who hurt us.  So, we forgive, we no longer demand repayment for the injury.  Is this tough to do?  It is without a doubt the hardest thing you will ever do but God tells us to do it because there can only be healing if there is forgiveness; without forgiveness we are left with pain.

     That is what the verse tells us.  When someone sins against you, the weight of that sin remains with them.  The pain that they caused you will remain with them.  In order for them to be released from the pain, from the debt they owe, we need to forgive so that they too can heal.  It is hard; it can be incredibly hard, but God invites us to forgive in order that healing, and reconciliation can occur and that we can be whole again.

Father of love and mercy, you have given me your forgiveness in order that I might be reconciled to you.  Lead me by your Spirit to forgive as you have forgiven me.  Lead me to give the healing that you so freely give to me.  Send your powerful healing to all.  In the precious name of Jesus, we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret