Live Forgiven

Photo used with permission of Alfreda Funnye Photography
(more info below)

I was watching a television show with my boyfriend this past weekend.  One of the characters on the show was preparing to get married and the day before her wedding, she agreed to meet with the man who had been serving years of prison time for murdering her family... Wow!  That's heavy, right?  I know. She basically told him that he didn't deserve forgiveness for the things that he had done... I was watching that show and in my head and heart I said,

"Wow!  I'm glad that she's not God and I'm glad that God is not like her!"

I've not been in the situation that she was in.  I've been hurt before, but not to that degree.  I've hurt someone before, though not to that magnitude.  I wouldn't dare walk around as if I've never hurt anyone else.  More importantly, I won't act as if I've never hurt God.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross, a perfect and sinless man, He hung between two thieves.  One mocked Him while the other confessed faith in Him.  He had been beaten and tormented. And the soldiers who had His blood on their hands were not the least bit phased or concerned about what they were doing.  Though His flesh was weak and He was near death, Jesus made a powerful statement:  "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."  WOW!

If Jesus, who was perfect and sinless can forgive the men who beat Him, mocked Him, made a spectacle of Him, ultimately killing him.  If Jesus can ask His heavenly father for forgiveness on their behalf, how much more should we forgive others that have hurt us?  How much more should we forgive ourselves?

Peter once asked Jesus, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven." (Matt. 18:21-22) Jesus said that we should forgive someone 70 x 7... but of course no one is going to sit and count how many times they forgive someone.  But that's the point... Jesus says you keep on forgiving.

I know what you're thinking, it's too much.  'I can't forgive that person.  And I certainly cannot forgive them again.'  'You don't know what they did to me!'  'You don't understand how they hurt me.' I don't know, you're right.  But God knows.  He said in His word "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." (Matt. 6:14-15)   When people say that forgiveness is for  you, that's the truth in more ways than one.  You not only free your mind from that torment, but you free your spirit, too.  If you can't forgive others, God will not forgive you!  OUCH!  I know. That's tough, but it's in the Book.

Not only should you consider the fact that you want to be forgiven, but please remember that God forgave you.  The ONLY perfect man was Jesus.  We have all sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.  In order for you to be here today, you had to have been forgiven.  The grace of God kept you.  Scripture says, "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." (Eph. 4:31-32)  There's nothing you've done to earn forgiveness.  But, only because of Christ's work on the cross has God forgiven you.

It's not too late.

You're not too far gone.

God isn't mad at you.

God still loves you!

God wants to forgive you... He's waiting for you to ask!

It's time for us to live forgiven!

Lord, help me to be free today from the pain of my past and present situations.  Let me not be like the girl from the tv show who thought someone else didn't deserve forgiveness.  Thank you for forgiving me anyway.  If there's anything I've done to hurt someone, myself or hurt you, please forgive me.  Cleanse me from all unrighteousness... Help me to live free.  Help me to live... forgiven. In Jesus' name, Amen.  

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Here are the details on the graphic used for this post.  All photo credit goes to Alfreda Funnye of Alfreda Funnye Photography, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  The text was added by me.  Check out more of her work by clicking here!