Recently
I was faced with a difficult personal struggle regarding forgiveness. I came to
the place where I cried, “I can’t do this! It’s too hard!” Then I realized -
that’s the point. This isn’t supposed to be easy. The truth is that I can’t do this.
I need God’s grace and help because my sinful heart is incapable of
forgiveness. When I came to that realization, I was able to pray and ask God to
do what I could not do in my own heart – to give me a heart of love and
forgiveness. My mind went to the following Scripture.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:3-8
I meditated on the character of Christ – how He was silent before His accusers, how He cried out for God to forgive those who were crucifying Him, how He set aside His own rights as Sovereign Lord and took on humanity. The more I looked at Christ, the more my heart was humbled. When I asked myself, “What would God have me do?” in light of what I had been meditating on, I had the answer. God is not glorified when I hold on to the personal pain that feeds resentment. God is not glorified when I tell others how much I have been wronged and hurt. God is not glorified when I wish evil on those who have wronged me. Rather, God is glorified when I am able to die to my pride, my rights, and my hurts and forgive by His grace. God is glorified when I overlook the sins of others and have a gracious, loving spirit. Those actions reflect Him – His mercy and His grace. May the forgiveness and mercy that I have in Christ be reflected in my heart and actions towards others!
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ‘s sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:3-8
I meditated on the character of Christ – how He was silent before His accusers, how He cried out for God to forgive those who were crucifying Him, how He set aside His own rights as Sovereign Lord and took on humanity. The more I looked at Christ, the more my heart was humbled. When I asked myself, “What would God have me do?” in light of what I had been meditating on, I had the answer. God is not glorified when I hold on to the personal pain that feeds resentment. God is not glorified when I tell others how much I have been wronged and hurt. God is not glorified when I wish evil on those who have wronged me. Rather, God is glorified when I am able to die to my pride, my rights, and my hurts and forgive by His grace. God is glorified when I overlook the sins of others and have a gracious, loving spirit. Those actions reflect Him – His mercy and His grace. May the forgiveness and mercy that I have in Christ be reflected in my heart and actions towards others!
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ‘s sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32
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