Forgiveness is freeing

FORGIVENESS is freeing.  Colossians 3.12-13

As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

My Friends, 

Forgiveness is immense: it breaks down walls, frees hearts, mends countries, restores families, and draws out the best in us.  It can turn hatred into tenderness and the desire to destroy, into a passion to protect.  It is more powerful than any weapon, government, or wealth.  Nothing else can bring such profound healing. Forgiveness forms the foundation of our relationship with God and sustains our relationships with each other.  When we unleash this gift, God can actually free our heart and heal our relationships, then the miraculous can happen.1

Forgiveness is vertical - whether it is seeking forgiveness for our own sins ... or endeavoring to forgive another for what we have ought against them ... we go to God first, or at least we ought.  Forgiveness is God's invention for coming to terms with a world in which people are unfair to each other and hurt each other deeply. He began by forgiving us. And he invites us all to forgive each other.2  Oh man, that is powerful, and so liberating.

Forgive  -  pardon; excuse for a fault or offense; renounce anger or resentment against; absolve from payment for a debt

Who do you need to forgive? _______________________________________

What did he or she do? ___________________________________________

Or doing, even now?______________________________________________

Consider what Jesus had to say: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6.14-15

Paul said, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3.13

‘Still not convinced you should forgive? You might wish to look at this 2007 LA Times article called "Forgive and Be Well" . . . it cites research that forgiveness can improve cardiovascular function, diminish chronic pain, relieve depression and boost quality of life . . . while failure to forgive may, over a lifetime, boost a person's risk for heart disease, mental illness and other ills . . . Forgiveness is a skill that can be learned.  Hmmm . . . 3

As a friend and I discussed the matter I asked him, 'Why is it so difficult to forgive?' because what he (his boss) did was unjust, and I feel a need for justice; it feels like if I forgive him, I am denying justice.'

'Why do you want to forgive him then?' for the healing process--to get rid of the bad feelings, anger, frustration, which decrease my energy level, and damages my spirit, and . . . well, hurts me spiritually, and because I am not following my Lord’s teachings.  Forgiveness is divine.  It is what our Lord teaches us.’  Wow.

‘Forgiving another person causes them to inspect their own behavior.  I consider it a failure when I don't forgive; a success, when I do,’ was part of my friend’s stance, and I marveled at his perspective.

So you realize you need to forgive someone, but how do you do it? Are there any steps to be taken? I think there are--

1. Recognize that you need to forgive the person who injured you (whether or not they know it--whether or not he seeks forgiveness)                                                2. Commit to forgiveness. Come on--make a commitment to forgive. Don't just decide... commit.                                                                                                      3. Ask God to help you forgive, to release the bitter or hurt feeling you have, and give it to Him.                                                                                                          4. Pray for the person, for his well-being.

One of my favorite teachers is Dr. James MacDonald, and he talked about one tool he has used to forgive people who have hurt him:  I wrote down the names of six particular people. I remember very clearly getting on my knees and envisioning a little leather pouch and, after writing out the people’s names on little pieces of paper, I put them in the bag and tightened it up. I wrote the word Forgiveness on the outside. In my mind’s eye, I knelt down and laid that bag at the cross, saying, “God, in view of all that You’ve forgiven me, I’m letting this go. I’m leaving it behind. I’m releasing them from the obligation that resulted when they injured me.”   

Forgiveness is freeing . . . don’t you see?  Choosing unforgiveness is paralyzing.

Experience freedom~ commit to forgive.

1 – TrueFaced – Thrall, McNichol, Lynch     

2  -  Lewis B. Smedes        

3 - http://articles.latimes.com/2007/dec/31/health/he-forgiveness31