SCRIPTURE:
If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.
Luke 17:3, 4
OBSERVATION:
Jesus once again reminds me the importance of love and forgiveness; two words I think I understand but continually fail to follow. Jesus warns the disciples that we will continually be tempted by sin and failing to love and forgive is often the precursor to these acts that Jesus deems sinful.
The first part’s easy. It’s easy to rebuke. It’s the second part that’s much more challenging. I need to also forgive.
My default is vengeance. Getting even and making sure my point is taken and understood. I have fought many silly fights because of my need to not only be right, but let my adversary know how wrong they were. I do the exact opposite of 1 Corinthians 13.
Yet, I understand that I’m required to forgive. If I’m to called to Jesus then my actions must reflect His heart. I do forgive eventually, so it’s the attitude of my forgiveness that needs work. Christ has called me to forgive. He has commanded me to love, so why do I always feel the need to lay down my case against the crime prior to offering forgiveness. If I continue to follow my way I waste a lot of time and energy on a fruitless act. I don’t need to build a case when wronged, instead I need to remember to love and forgive as Jesus has loved and forgiven me over and over and over again.
APPLICATION:
So what does loving and forgiving look like for me?
1. I hold no account of wrongs. When I do this, forgiveness is easy and given freely without explanation or repayment.
2. I hope is for the success of others. I rebuke to bring restoration and repair to a broken situation, not defeat and hopelessness. I forgive because I’ve been forgiven and been offered a grace undeserved.
3. It means I become more like Jesus. Jesus loved and forgave me and found me precious and to die for. If I am truly to be the man of God that He has called me to be, that I want to be and other’s me claim to be, I need to represent Jesus’ love.
PRAYER:
Lord thank you for allowing me love and the ability to love. Forgive me for abusing love so long and for taking love for granted. I pray for the readiness to forgive and show a genuine love in all I do. Amen
