Forgiveness

By Nancy L. Cox

WCFS Senior

Forgiveness

If you learn to forgive,

You’ll live without stress,

It’s the best way to live,

You should not do less.

When you walk in forgiveness,

You’ll have a peace inside-

That helps you look your best,

If you’ll just try.

When someone’s done you wrong,

And you don’t want to forgive;

Remember that Jesus, though He was strong,         

Though He could have lived-

He chose to die and forgive.

He could have saved Himself,

And killed His enemies;

But He put His will on the shelf,

And forgave the Pharisees.

As He was hanging on the cross,

He looked up to Heaven;

Said Father save them for they’re lost,

They’re blind so forgive them

Jesus said to forgive,

He said to live as He lived,

Even when you are wronged again and again,

He’ll help you forgive as you were forgiven.

Just think-He loved you,

So much that He died for you;

Even though you have wronged Him,

He still forgave your sins.

How can you do less?

For someone that you can learn to love,

Even if they have wronged you at best,

Remember what Jesus has done.

Pray that God will help you bless-

The ones who have wronged you,

Pray that He will make you true,

And give you unconditional forgiveness.

NLC ‘05

Christ has called us to forgive when someone has done us harm. In fact, He goes even farther to say that we need to love our enemies.  He says in Matt. 5:43-45a, “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;” .   

Jesus says to “…forgive one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you…” (Col. 3:13).  How can we who have been forgiven for our never ending sins, not even try to begin to forgive someone for their sins against us?  Christ died for sinners so that we could spend eternity with Him.  He forgave all our sins on that cross. All He asks us to do is to forgive as He forgave. (Eph. 4:31-32; 5:1-2))

He has set the example, and all we need to do is to follow. When we learn to forgive, God gives us a peace that passes all understanding. He also gives us a love for the person that we are forgiving, that could only come from Him.  The only way we can truly forgive is if we ask God to give us a love for that person that only He could give.  “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ” (Col. 3:14-15)

Love, true love is the very key that unlocks the door to forgiveness. For if you say that you forgive someone for what they have done to you, but you hate them, how can you really forgive?  The love of God is the only true source of forgiveness, it is not a respecter of persons, and it never stops loving.  The love of God is unconditional, it never gets offended if it has been wronged and it does not keep a record of how many times it’s been wronged so that after 490 times, it stops forgiving.  It forgives even when it hurts. “Love never fails”. (1Cor. 13:1-13)

God doesn’t want us to just love Him. He wants us to love others as well. He even says that we are a liar if we say that we love God, but we hate our brother; “for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John.4:7-12, 20).  

In The Voice of the Martyrs, Extreme Devotion, I read a story about a twelve year old boy in Russia whose parents were put in prison for their faith. He went to the Communist officer Captain Marco and said “Captain, you are the man who put my parents in prison, Today is my mother’s birthday, and I always buy her a flower for her birthday. Since my mother taught me to love my enemies and to reward evil with good, I have brought the flower instead for the mother of your children. Please take it home to your wife tonight, and tell her about my love and the love of Christ.”

This man who had been unmoved as Christians were beaten and tortured for their faith, was now stunned by this act of love. Tears fell down his cheeks as he hugged the boy in a fatherly embrace. Marco’s heart was changed, and just a few months later was arrested for his faith and was placed in the same prison cell as some of the Christians that he had arrested (VOM Extreme Devotion pg. 11).

May we learn to have such a love and forgiveness for our enemies. May God fill us with the love that is unconditional. May He fill us with the forgiveness that comes from His love.

“‘But I say unto you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. But if you love those who love you what credit is that to you? For even the sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even the sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.  But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father is also merciful. Judge not that you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”