This morning the theme of my prayer time is forgiveness. I don’t think I have many struggles in this area, but I might be wrong. Lord, please open my eyes if I do. I know that forgiveness is certainly something that many people struggle with in their lives. I started reading in Jeremiah and ran across a few verses where Jeremiah is asking God to strike down his enemies and as I read them I was thinking that these prayers were very un-Christ-like. Here are the verses - Jeremiah 18:19-23 NIV:
[19] “Listen to me, LORD; hear what my accusers are saying! [20] Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember that I stood before you and spoke in their behalf to turn your wrath away from them. [21] So give their children over to famine; hand them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives be made childless and widows; let their men be put to death, their young men slain by the sword in battle. [22] Let a cry be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet. [23] But you, LORD, know all their plots to kill me. Do not forgive their crimes or blot out their sins from your sight. Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of your anger.”
My first thought on reading these verses was that this sounds like some of the well-known modern day prophets that are prophesying against cities or regions or people that are known for being sinners. My second thought was that this is clearly not one of those parallel verses we find in both the Old and New Testaments, nor a shadow of what is to be fulfilled through Jesus. Rather this is exact opposite of what Jesus demonstrated in His life. Instead of calling down vengeance, Jesus called down forgiveness - as described in these verses from Luke 23:32-34 NIV:
[32] “Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. [33] When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. [34] Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”
Jesus, in addition to living out a very different approach to sinners (He died for them all, taking their punishment upon Himself) taught several times on forgiveness as well, and we are encouraged to embrace His words, and examples. Probably the most pointed teaching came during His sermon on the Mount, here recounted in Matthew 6:14-15 NIV:
[14] “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. [15] But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
He said these words prior to His passion, death, resurrection and ascension, but we cannot ignore them, for every word Jesus spoke was at the Father’s direction. This clearly speaks of the importance of forgiveness, and becomes clearer through the further teachings of Paul in his letter to the Colossians 3:12-14 NIV:
[12] Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [13] Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. [14] And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Forgiveness for our sins is a gift we receive when we believe, and we are called to forgive others as we have been forgiven! What we have received we should extend. Paul wrote more thoroughly about this all in his letter to the Romans 3:21-26 NIrV:
[21] “But now God has shown us his saving power without the help of the law. But the Law and the Prophets tell us about this. [22] We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. This happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for the Gentiles. [23] Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory. [24] The free gift of God's grace makes us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free. [25] God gave Christ as a sacrifice to pay for sins through the spilling of his blood. So God forgives the sins of those who have faith. God did all this to prove that he does what is right. He is a God of mercy. So he did not punish for their sins the people who lived before Jesus lived. [26] God did all this to prove in our own time that he does what is right. He also makes right with himself those who believe in Jesus.”
This grace gift, this forgiveness of our sins, is something that should fill us with gratitude every day of our lives. It is something that should inspire our actions towards others, we should be demonstrating that which we have received in freely forgiving others, and that is where many of us struggle. We don’t want to forgive, we want vengeance for wrongs done to us! Jeremiah demonstrated this spirit in his asking God to smite his enemies, and it seems this is not far from our thoughts and prayers when we have been wronged, and this is clearly not what Jesus taught us.
Unforgiveness is a very dangerous sin, for it can lead to other things like unbelief and bitterness. (See Heb 12:15) We can begin to accuse God of not loving us, or not caring for us! We can take His seat as judge and call down condemnation on those who have wronged us. All of this is so dangerous, and the absolute opposite of the type of witness we are called to bring.
One other area, which is more common these last few years is the area of being offended. In reality, I believe this is just unforgiveness with a different name, and closely tied to unbelief. Someone’s words hurt us so we choose to judge them unworthy… or evil. People were regularly offended at Jesus, for He didn’t do what they wanted, or meet their expectations, but instead did what the Father told Him to do. It is interesting that in Mark’s Gospel, we find being offended and unbelief (or lack of faith) tied together. Here are the verses - Mark 6:1-6 NIV:
[1] “Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. [2] When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? [3] Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.”
[4] “Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” [5] He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. [6] He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.”
There are so many verses that I could quote and reflect on, but I think I will stop and just quote these few verses from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 4:26-27,29-32 NIV:
[26] “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [27] and do not give the devil a foothold.”
[29] “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. [30] And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. [31] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [32] Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Oh Lord, help me to embrace forgiveness, to extend forgiveness and to walk in peace, faith and mercy.
Amen and Amen!
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