Forgiveness is a term that has become so foreign to us. In
our daily interactions with various human beings, we consistently err due to
our many imperfections. We hurt each other intentionally or unintentionally in
all directions because of our misconduct. If we each contemplated on just how
many people we have hurt and how much we are in need of their forgiveness, we
would not be as stingy in forgiving all those who have wronged us.
We like judging others and their faults, while remaining
blind to our own shortcomings. We rack our memories for the one time we helped
a fellow human being, but easily forget how many times we have wronged them. A
true believers mind should be humbled and occupied with trying to fix their own
deficiencies to the point that they do not have the time to raise their head to
focus on the faults of others.
It is even more fascinating how we fool ourselves into
thinking we are gracious and forgiving. We say by our tongue that we forgive a
person, yet we act contrary to this. We start talking behind that person’s back
and ruin their reputation. I’ve seen horrific examples in our communities where
one family has some conflicts with another family, resulting in bad mouthing
and back-biting for years. You could live thousands of miles away from either
family, and are still bound to hear something negative about one family or the
other. It is so upsetting and disturbing how we let our tongues loose, and not
realise how much we hurt people by it. We might even be a step higher in our
act of forgiveness that we do not mention a person’s faults to others, but we
still choose to distance ourselves from them. This is wrong as well. How would
we feel if God distanced Himself from us for every sin we committed?
Forgive. Don’t retaliate. Let God do His work.
Nahum 1:2-3
God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth,
and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he
reserveth wrath for his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power,
and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind
and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Then, don’t hold back the love you have received, beloved.
Don’t hold back that forgiveness. It was meant to be released. Open your heart
to Jesus, and let Him move freely in you. Allow the changes He is making in
your heart. There are major renovations. He is taking away the anger, sweeping
out the guilt, and driving out the fear. I know that you may not be used to
these being absent, but you’re better off without them, beloved. God is
replacing them with hope, love, compassion, kindness and faith.
Forgive, beloved, because you were not designed to keep that resentment inside of you. It has never been in your nature to keep those feelings too long inside. It only makes things harder. You know what, since the day you accepted Christ, you are being transformed to be more and more like Him. Thus, forgiveness comes out naturally from you. Love comes out naturally from you. These are not born out of our efforts, though. They are fruits, because we abide in Christ.
Forgive, beloved. Not because it is an obligation, but
because it is a necessity. This great love that you have received from Jesus
can never be caged inside. It won’t be stuck inside you, just for you. It has
to come out. You are not just a storage, you are also a channel. Don’t miss the
privilege. Let love out.
“Forgiveness will not be possible until compassion is born
in our heart. Even if you want to forgive, you cannot forgive. In order to be
compassionate, you have to understand why the other person has done that to you
and your people. You have to see that they are victims of their own confusion,
their own worldview, their own grieving, their own discrimination, their own
lack of understanding and compassion.”
— Thich Nhat
Hanh
Forgiveness will bring you happiness.
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