Forgiveness

Interestingly, the message on Christmas Eve was on Forgiveness. How very apt for a bunch of close friends.

Most of the points I already agree with, but it’s just reassuring to have them emphasized by the Senior Pastor. And what a night indeed, witnessing the turnaround of a man who strayed and now has returned. I hope that truly reassures us that God can and will work miracles!

I do remember being struck by a point SP mentioned, about the common phrase ‘forgive and forget’. This phrase essentially caters to our selfish desires, to free ourselves from the anger and bitterness. On the other hand, forgiveness isn’t about freeing ourselves, but it’s about pardoning the ‘offender’, freeing him of the guilt. I’ve never looked at it that way! Though sometimes the consequences cannot be avoided, but forgiveness can and should still be shown.

I think most of us Christians know this already. That we should forgive just because God has already forgiven us. It was costly though; Christ’s death was the payment. Yet, it was freely given to us. So, since God forgave us for our sins and freed us from eternal death and this has already been done, what’s it to us that we forgive each other for temporary, earthly wrongdoings?

But, as with most Christian teachings, easier said than done. Especially if the ‘wrongdoing’ seems particularly serious and undeserving of forgiveness. But, as if we deserved God’s forgiveness…

I’m reminded of the message given during Roy and Sheralyn’s wedding yesterday. Marks of a Christian: Love, Prayer and the Pursuit and Practice of Holiness.
Regarding the third point, the speaker said this, that the greatest goal of our lives in Jesus is not the pursuit of happiness, but the pursuit of holiness.

So if we truly were to grow to become like Him, showing God’s kind of love, praying to Him constantly, and pursuing and practicing God’s holiness, I suppose forgiveness shouldn’t be too hard. Yeaahh right. Hallelujah for that day when any of us can easily forgive, because it’ll always be tough, even almost impossible, to have to put others before ourselves, let alone our ‘offenders’.

At this point, I feel the need to point out one thing. I believe that this forgiveness is about pardoning the ‘offender’ first, like by default. And then working out whatever needs to be worked out later. But forgive first. Because God didn’t wait for us to say sorry or present our case or make amendments, before He sent Jesus to die for us.

So here’s the thing, can we forgive now? Maybe not knowing why it was done, or even if it was done at all (could have been our own fault!), can we forgive first? Before we receive apologies, explanations, amendments, will we make the choice to be like Christ?

I can’t speak for myself, because I’m really good at remembering wrongdoings and bearing grudges and staging cold wars. So, I do pray that God changes me, to become someone who will forgive like He forgave me. We all need to pray this!

By His Grace...