Forgiveness

Over the last several days I didn't feel well and I skipped writing. When I write a certain freedom comes; it gives me that little shove to keep moving. This is when I pick up a pen and move these fingers. I crack open the bible and laptop and just type. Here I unload my burdens to Jesus and move.

It's then I envision a guard following a group prisoner’s, gently “tapping” the straggling prisoner—as seen in old fashion Westerns, of course! It’s that in-your-face kind of drill instructor from boot camp, any boot camp! It's that thud of pride falling and I get moving. Moving forward in life is not simply a choice; time moves on come what may. With that I’m pressed forward, like it or not. 

It's times like this that out of a 1000 songs on my Ipod, Third Day's, 'Otherside' comes on--a song about moving on. Coincidence? I think not.

In opposition to the freedom of Christ, I feel stalled, spiraling at times; I get lost within my soul. There are times when words escape my fingers; these lost words cling to the roof of my mouth or get stuck inside my fingers. I just want to shout or scream, yet something suppresses all of this  

Usually, these are time when I’m either sick physically, spiritually or both. If it is only of a physical nature, depending, on its severity, I will call a friend and pray over it or go to the church elders. The spiritual sickness of sin is far more deadly and often veils itself in pride or shame. In moments the I blow it the most, I compound sin and multiply its evil by lying to cover the offense. It’s shameful to even say.

This is just stupid! It is self-righteous pride. We try to hide our flaws from others, though some are too great to hide and our sin is evident anyway. Perhaps James, the brother of Jesus realized this and the Holy Spirit prompted him to include confessing our sins to one another.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.  Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:13-16 NIV1984

Even knowing this, have you ever noticed, some “Christians” are either too ashamed to admit their sins (unless caught) and others are too holy to hear them? I guess we forgot about forgiving 70 times 7. We've forgotten a basic of our faith: confession and forgiveness.

Jesus laid out the simple basics and told Peter (seen below). If confession to our brothers and sisters in Christ became truly followed, it would probably put Christian counseling businesses, out of business. Or, at least leave them to counsel those that don’t know Jesus.

Here is the verses with Jesus’ powerfully merciful words.

^“… Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Matthew 18:21-22 NIV1984

I didn't want to take up too much space here or go on an on. Though I did want to encourage us to read the parable Jesus stressed (Matthew 18:22-35) after He told Peter these remarkable words.

These things get me. Jesus love goes beyond! It goes beyond our struggles with sins of any kind. It goes beyond our petty differences and unites us in the love of God. It goes beyond all human reasoning and gives us the heart of God and the mind of Christ. He wants to forgive us and have us forgive each other. Forgive what?  Forgive us and each other of any and every sin.

“O how He loves us!” Take time and read over what we call, “The Lord’s Prayer.”(Matthew 6) It’s really our model of how to pray, not what to pray. Pay special attention! Look intensely at the section about forgiving debts or trespasses--a trespass is a willful defiant sin, against God or fellow humans.

Read a few more verses after this and you’ll see why.  

"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." Matthews 6:14-15 NIV1984

Forgiveness, it’s an essential of Christ and Christian living. How and why do we forget this?