Alright guys, it has become that time again. The time for yet one more devotion that I hope will get to you in a deep and meaningful way. I found this devotion this morning, and when I read it, I was utterly filled with the "Jesus Chills". This is definitely something that I have trouble with, and I am sure many of you do, too. This one comes from dare2share.org once again. So please, take this to heart and really delve into the meaning behind the words.
What is forgiveness anyway? Why must we forgive? What does it truly mean to forgive someone who has hurt us deeply? Consider this illustration about a man named Tomas Borge that I found in Let Me Tell You a Story compiled by author and speaker Tony Campolo.
Tomas Borge was a Nicaraguan freedom fighter who led a group against a regime who sought out to destroy their country by way of utter domination. Borge was captured and tortured in a dungeon, where he was chained to a wall, castrated, and even witnessed the rape of his wife.
Finally the revolution ended and Borge was released and marched through a parade as he was hailed by fellow Nicaraguans as a hero. As he marched down the streets he recognized the man who had him in chains and raped his wife. He fell out of order and ran to the crowd. Approaching this man, he grabbed him by the shoulders and began asking Him if he remembered who he was. The captor acted as if he had never seen Tomas Borge before.
Borge continued talking about how he could never forget his face. Still clutching onto his shoulders, Borge screamed loudly saying,
"Now do you know what this revolution is all about? Now do you understand this revolution?"
The man responded in fear saying, "Yes! Yes!"
Tomas answered back, "No! You don't understand what this revolution is all about!"
Then he embraced the man and shouted, "I forgive you! I forgive you! That's what this revolution is all about!"
This is a perfect example of Christ's ultimate love and forgiveness that is offered to us. We have done so much to hurt Him, and turned our backs on Him. We have mocked Him, and hurled insults at Him more times than we probably care to count. We put Christ on the cross and crucified Him, because of our sin. Yet Scripture tell us that:
"as far as sunrise is from sunset, He has separated us from our sins" (Psalm 103:12, msg).
He has not only forgiven our sins, but He has forgotten them as well. Our sins were removed by the price paid on the cross. God sent His only Son, Jesus to take on the sins of the world and die in our place. He gave a clean slate to work from. God's love is so great; He did this for us, sacrificing everything.
"You'll be able to take in with all Christians the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights!" (Ephesians 3:18, msg)
Christ forgave, therefore we too have the responsibility to forgive others. Ephesians 4:32 says, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." In other words, we have been forgiven and many of us have seen the transformation of God's powerful forgiveness in our own lives, and are now called to forgive others in the same way.
From a human perspective, this task is impossible! We have been hurt and we justify our hurt and anger, yet God forgave the worst of sins. For example, let's take a look at a man who seemed to have every right to hate his brother for the sins committed against him and refuse forgiveness. Esau was stripped of everything. Jacob, his conniving brother, stole everything that rightfully belonged to Esau. Jacob plotted and schemed his entire life. Years later, Jacob was to face his brother. He was met by Esau and 400 soldiers. Jacob would have deserved death and humiliation, but Esau approached Him and Scripture tells us that he
"ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept" (Genesis 33:4).
Instead of fighting back in anger and hurt, Esau chose to love Jacob and give the ultimate response of love; that is forgiveness.
I know we all have situations in our lives that require us to forgive and forgive more than we want to. I know I have a situation that requires me to forgive someone each and every day. I do not claim to be perfect, and I know you will not always succeed in the realm of forgiveness. However, I ask that you consider trying with the help of Christ, through whom all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). When we choose to forgive as people like Tomas Borge, Jesus and Esau forgave, we will see great things, especially in our own lives as we are lifted out of bondage to bitterness and anger.
Questions:
- Is there someone in your life that requires your forgiveness without asking for it?
- What is holding you back from forgiving someone with Christ's love?
- Will you approach that person immediately and forgive them once and for all, without using it against them later?
- Will you be the next Tomas or Esau?
