Forgiveness – Part One
Jason July 7th, 2008 No Comments
Last Sunday Night (7-6-08) I taught a lesson about the foundations of forgiveness. Here are some additional follow-up ideas.
- We are called to forgive– even if the person who has offended does not ask for help. See the examples of Joseph who forgave his brothers when they didn’t know his identity, Jesus at the cross with the soldiers, and the 1st Christian martyr Steven who prayed as Jesus did when he died.
- If we have forgiven, we can (if it is appropriate) work toward reconciliation or restoration of the relationship.
- Reconciliation can not happen unless both parties want to see change.
- Ideally, another person will accept our forgiveness and our desire to reconcile a relationship. Unfortunately, many people reject our overtures of forgiveness. This can happen because they are unwilling or unable to accept our forgiveness.
- However, our willingness to forgive should be way out in front of any apology or call to repentance. We forgive before any act of contrition.
- Sometimes though we love a person and forgive them, we have to keep our distance from them because they aren’t safe to be around. Having a forgiving spirit is not a license to let others treat us like a doormat (or worse).
- Christians extend their arms wide as Jesus did and leave open the possibility of exclusion (or embrace if it is appropriate) from the other person.
