Yesterday morning I went to Reveille. It is a small prayer group that meets at our church. Pastor shared with us three words that we all love to hear. They are “you are forgiven.” He spoke of all the three words that are normally grouped together and said of all them “you are forgiven” has the greatest impact upon us. To know that God has forgiven us our sins sets us free from the burden of sin. It is also the foundation of our eternal hope.
While pastor was speaking three other words came to mind – I love you. These words raised the question, “How do you say I love you?” One way to say it is to forgive a person who has offended you. Our greatest example of this was Jesus when he cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” [Luke 23:34] Jesus was the personified expression of God’s love to us. The apostle Paul told us that “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]
We do not forgive people we hate because hate holds on to offenses and seeks retribution. Love forgives. Anger does not allow us to forgive. Anger seeks to retaliate not forgive. When we learn to love rather hate or respond with kindness rather than anger and forgive those that offend us, we set ourselves free from the bondage hate and anger bring us under. We also demonstrate as Jesus did the love of God that not only transforms people but relationships.
When we tell a parent, spouse or child we love them, the best demonstration of that love is to exercise forgiveness. God’s Word tells us, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
The meaning in Hebrew for “remember” is to mention, or recount. To forgive means that you will not let their offensive acts hinder your relationship and you will never again remind them of their actions. How often in a disagreement with a parent, spouse or child have you reminded them of past failures for which you supposedly forgave them? To raise the past is an indication you have not really forgiven them. How would you like it if God continually reminded you of all you past failures?
Just think how this one act of love can change your relationship with a parent, spouse or a child?
While pastor was speaking three other words came to mind – I love you. These words raised the question, “How do you say I love you?” One way to say it is to forgive a person who has offended you. Our greatest example of this was Jesus when he cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” [Luke 23:34] Jesus was the personified expression of God’s love to us. The apostle Paul told us that “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Romans 5:8]
We do not forgive people we hate because hate holds on to offenses and seeks retribution. Love forgives. Anger does not allow us to forgive. Anger seeks to retaliate not forgive. When we learn to love rather hate or respond with kindness rather than anger and forgive those that offend us, we set ourselves free from the bondage hate and anger bring us under. We also demonstrate as Jesus did the love of God that not only transforms people but relationships.
When we tell a parent, spouse or child we love them, the best demonstration of that love is to exercise forgiveness. God’s Word tells us, “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:34
The meaning in Hebrew for “remember” is to mention, or recount. To forgive means that you will not let their offensive acts hinder your relationship and you will never again remind them of their actions. How often in a disagreement with a parent, spouse or child have you reminded them of past failures for which you supposedly forgave them? To raise the past is an indication you have not really forgiven them. How would you like it if God continually reminded you of all you past failures?
Just think how this one act of love can change your relationship with a parent, spouse or a child?
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