Forgiveness.
Forgiveness is powerful and it changes lives.
It’s the whole reason that lead us to find our church eleven years ago. Brian and I were on our way to Michigan to see a Nascar race. I was BIG into Nascar back then and dear, sweet husband basically came along for the ride (well, except that he drove). I had just purchased a book that peaked my interest and I decided to read it aloud during the five hour drive. The book was called The Road to Forgiveness by Bill and Cindy Griffiths and it's about a couple, Bill and Cindy, who lost both their 11-year-old daughter and Cindy's mother when a drunk driver crashed into the vehicle they were in. Instead of allowing grief and bitterness to swallow them up, they chose to forgive the drunk driver and even befriend her. In reading their story, it was so clear that they had such an intimate relationship with Jesus and it clearly made the difference in how they healed from their tragedy. Their story was so gripping, their faith so moving, their hope and conviction so touching ... we were amazed and yet, confused, because we believed what they believed ... we loved God and even knew that He sent His Son to die for our sins ... but maybe what we hadn't yet fully comprehended or even attempted to truly realize was that Jesus died for ALL sins ... even the sins of that drunk driver.
Maybe some of you might think it wasn't completely impossible to forgive that drunk driver ... because, well ... it wasn't as if she meant to kill that little girl and her grandmother. So, perhaps we might agree that it would be more difficult to forgive when the offense was intended?
But what about Gracia and Martin Burnham who were missionaries to the Philippines and were kidnapped by the Islamic militant group Abu Sayyaf? They were held captive for over a year in the unsuitable and harsh conditions of the jungle. Gracia was eventually rescued but Martin was killed during the Philippine military rescue effort. While they were being held, Gracia chose to forgive her captors. Her kidnapping was intentional and while she lived through the ordeal, the experience was a nightmare for her. Yet, she made the choice to forgive them. Even now, she prays for the men who kidnapped her. "Burnham says she prays for her kidnappers daily. "I would just like more than anything for these guys to hear the Gospel of Jesus while they're in jail. I'm glad they weren't sentenced to death and they have a chance to think about what's happened to them … I would love for them to hear about the forgiveness of Jesus." Burnham thinks perhaps she'll be able to someday share that message. "I would love to go back and be able to visit with them and just talk with them through an interpreter, and most of all get some literature in their language that talk about salvation."
While Burnham has forgiven those that kidnapped her and killed her husband, she says "It's an on-going thing. And every time I have one of those thoughts of bitterness, I just forgive again just as soon as it comes up. Once you start in that pattern of forgiveness, it becomes easier." According to Burnham, "God has forgiven me much, so I think it's my responsibility to forgive others." (http://mnnonline.org/article/10662)
So, even when someone intends to do us harm, we should forgive them? YES ~ and Jesus is our ultimate example of forgiveness! He forgave his murderers WHILE He was being killed. As He hung on the cross in agony, as He was mocked and ridiculed, ... He spoke aloud "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing!" ~Luke 23:34
We are imperfect people … and we are going to mess up! But in His Word, we are told to "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ~Colossians 3:13"
Believe me …I know that it is hard sometimes ... to forgive someone, especially if I feel that I have been seriously wronged and in my life, there are particular people with whom I find this especially difficult. But when we hold on to someone else’s wrongdoings and we carry around their guilt and shame as if insodoing we are assuring that there’s no way “they’ll” feel better (whether or not “they” agree they did something wrong) all we’re really doing is preventing ourselves from feeling better.
When we forgive someone, what we’re really saying is that we're not going to let their actions paralyze us ... we’re moving on and leaving the “offense” behind us.
In the LORD's prayer, we say: Our Father, who art in heaven, ... forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us ... (forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us). Forgive us, Father, for our sins ... in the same way that we forgive those who sin against us.
So, how are we at forgiving others?
Because I, myself, struggle with this from time to time, when I say the LORD's prayer, I change the words just a little bit.
Our Father, who is in heaven,
Holy is Your Name
Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give me this day, my daily bread,
And forgive me my sins ...
And help me, LORD, to forgive those who have sinned against me.
Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours ...
... both now and forever! AMEN.
Through Jesus' death and resurrection, we are freed from sin and renewed by Forgiveness. I pray that you know.
We are to forgive because we, ourselves, are forgiven. I pray that you do.
When we forgive, we break the chains of negativity and bitterness that keep us bound. I pray that you will.
Think about it.
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