Forgiveness

Most of the time hurting others is not purpose driven. It is generally unintentional acts that were not preconceived. Even more so for those who have accepted the finished work of Jesus and are leading lives with Him as an example. Intentional hurting of others comes out of deep pain that brought on anger. It is a way to get retribution for the pain caused us. It comes when either we don’t know the love of Christ or we willfully choose our way over His way.

I have hurt others unintentionally. I’m not proud of that. But when I recognized my wrong, the Lord has graciously given me opportunity to at least tell them that it was not my desire to hurt them. I confessed my wrong doing and asked for forgiveness. I have been so blessed in this area of my life. First of all, it is not my nature to hurt on purpose, even when I am angry. This is not a boast. I am totally cognizant that it is a gift from God. He made me this way for His purposes and I am grateful. It keeps me free of the guilt that can weigh us down.

However, being born of man, I have said and done some things out of my pain that had the potential to cause others heart pain or at least not be easily forgotten. But for me the irony of it is, the things that I say and do to hurt others will not leave me. Because of who I am in Christ, I cannot be satisfied by bringing pain to others. His divine compassion in me makes me want to fix it. I desire to bring peace.

This brings me to the other side of the coin. I have also been and continue to bear the burden of being intentionally hurt. Some of it comes as retribution for my actions.  Mostly unintentional to loved ones. It is very difficult to understand how someone you love can hate you or love you so much that they have to live a life bringing you pain. I live with the sadness of that pain but most of all, I am so unhappy for those who inflict it. It has to be hard to know the love of Christ and persistently bring pain on someone because you have chosen your own way to get vengeance for the pain that you suffer. I feel for the sadness that they bring to their own lives. The wasted and lost moments that will never be recovered. The chance of having to endure the pain felt if death comes before peace is made. Guilt will surface because they were not there doing and being what God intended.

The answer is simple if not easy. Jesus showed us how to make peace. Love endures through the good and the bad. It never fails and it overcomes a multitude of sin. His peace restores. It doesn’t mean that you forget but that you chose not to seek vengeance.

This is the season of celebrating the coming of peace. Because of sin, God’s peace was taken away from man. But on that peaceful night, over two thousand years ago, a child was born. The angels declared the “Good News”. “Peace on earth, goodwill toward man”. Our Father began the process of bringing His peace back to man by sending His Son into the earth as a sacrifice. The process ended with that sacrifice for our sin bringing forgiveness to us from the Father, giving us dominion over sin.
Having that great love bestowed upon us, is it so hard to sacrifice our will to maintain the spirit of the peace He gave us? Is it so hard to nail all the negative emotions to the cross? Is it so hard to give up the right to be vindicated, to forgive? Yes, forgive. Forgiveness will bring the peace that passes all understanding; nothing missing, nothing broken. Hearts full of the love of Christ. Let’s end this year leaving the past behind and make room for bright futures without baggage and skeletons.
Lord, give us vision to see things as You see them. Help us to see each other as You see us. Give us wisdom to know what to do and when to do it. Help us to love like You.