On Forgiveness . . . only God. James 2.24-26

James points to a prostitute to make his point.  In the midst of his discussion about faith and works, and to corroborate his point that the authentic Christian has some sort of ‘works’ in his life, he uses Rahab as his illustration.  Take a look:

Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.  In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.  James 2.24-26

For many of us who are well accustomed with the Bible or with the little letter of James itself, we have probably never stopped to think about that—but what an odd thing to do!  It would be like Rick Warren of Saddleback Church using Heidi Fleiss as an example of what to do right in a Sunday message!  It would be like Billy Graham using some other famous ‘madam’ in a sermon illustration; surely it would incite!  Tongues would wag.

But when I read it, I relate to the wideness of God’s mercy to Rahab—just as wide as to me.  Mostly, I think about how he forgives and cleanses my heart, just as he did Rahab’s, because that is what he does.  That is who God is.  And that is why he wants us to experience forgiveness and all of its freedom.  That is why I had to hit the ‘pause’ button right here in James 2, as we talked about Rahab, because it was mercy that compelled God to forgive Rahab, and us.  Mercy encompasses forgiveness, and forgiveness sets us free.  Forgiveness is one key to a pure heart, which is fundamental to life in the Spirit of God.     

James, our Lord’s brother, will move on to talking about getting control over our mouths, but that can’t be done without getting control over their governors—you know, the devices that regulate them—our hearts.  So, that is why we must continue to unpack this important subject of forgiveness—understanding it, desiring it from God, and giving it to others.  What does it mean to forgive?

...Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3.13)  The Lord forgave us of the very thing that cost him his life.

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

The dictionary definition enables us to see that there are various kinds of forgiveness.  For instance, the governor may pardon a convicted killer, but that forgiveness usually does not come at great personal cost to the governor.  Similarly, the $500 loan the young couple is excused from repaying their parents is forgiveness of debt, but not likely to cause the parents to grieve their loss in the matter.  But it is the words or actions of another (particularly one whom we esteem) that hurt us emotionally, that are the most difficult to forgive.  Hurt is the primary emotional response, which may then turn into anger, hatred, resentment, bitterness, woundedness, or even brokenness. 

“To err is human, to forgive, divine.”  That is a line from a poem, but it is sage.  When it is a matter of the heart, a matter of deep woundedness, only God can heal the deep gouge and allow a person to forgive an offender.  I have friends who were sexually abused by relatives when they were too young to defend themselves . . . how do they come to forgive such people?

Honestly, I believe it is only through the grace of God.

Not long ago, I talked with a friend who had been abandoned by his dad at a very young age.  We talked about how that made him into a person who would only ‘let people in so far’… how guarded he was…until he did some work in counseling and with the Lord.  His pain from childhood no longer defines him, although it does motivate him to be the best, in-touch father and husband he can be.  Yes, past pain can be used for good in our lives!  My friend has come to be able to forgive his father for his lack—for the pain he caused him because of his own lack as a man.

To put the whole matter in perspective though, I think of Jesus.  Think of the emotional pain he felt when his family rejected him as Savior . . . Peter denied him, when he was scourged and mocked.  I do not care if he was God incarnate—God in the flesh—all of this hurt him deeply.  And yet, he forgave.

Take your pain to him; he understands.  You won’t forget what caused you pain, but you will be able to forgive . . . over time.

Grace and Peace to you, my friends~

Christine