So What About Forgiveness? - Part 2

As we continue this mini-series on forgiveness, I want to address the issue of what forgiveness LOOKS like.  You may have heard someone tell you, "I forgive you" or "I have already forgiven you," but then you see something in-congruent with their words.  Their actions do not support their words.  How can you know? If a person whom you have offended says that they have forgiven you, but yet continues to berate you, ignore you, disrespect you, gossip about you, mock you, or even look at you differently, then chances are that they haven't forgiven you.

Yesterday I watched Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith of ESPN"s First Take, and they discussed the recent signing of Michael Vick by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  There is a petition that some Steelers fans are circulating who want to get Vick kicked off of the team for his role in dog fighting several years ago.  Michael Vick was convicted of a felony for his vicious treatment and killing of dogs.  He served his time in a federal penitentiary. Since his release from jail, Michael Vick has been a model citizen.  He has advocated for animal rights, has played on a few different NFL teams, and has "kept his nose clean," as best we know.  But YET, there are still many people who REFUSE to forgive Michael.  They are demonstrating their lack of forgiveness toward Michael by the way they treat him. They call him names, protest his presence on a football team, and try to rally others to join them in their disdain toward him. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25281382/petition-to-get-michael-vick-off-the-steelers-already-has-15k-signatures

My question is: what does Forgiveness LOOK like?? It's easy for us to say the words, "I forgive you," but it is much more difficult to put those words into action. Forgiveness should lead to reconciliation, in which there can be exchanges of handshaking, hugs, smiles, tears, and an enunciation of positive words from both sides.  The only time that reconciliation might not be possible, is if there is concrete evidence for which a person fears for their existence or personal safety.

A great biblical example of this concerns Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul. Saul was a Jewish Pharisee and a strict observer of Torah.  He believed Jesus' followers were dangerous to Judaism, and so he set out to persecute these early disciples of Jesus. Saul dragged off Christian men and women to prison, he beat them up, he tried to force them to speak against the Lord Jesus, and he gave approval to their deaths.  Nobody in the Christian community trusted Saul.  When Saul was converted to Christ, he began Preaching Jesus to his fellow Jewish countrymen.  In Jerusalem, however, none of the Christians wanted to befriend Saul because they feared him.  Barnabas reached out to Saul, and brought him to the apostles. The point is, Barnabas had to go beyond words, and move to action by accepting Saul into the community -  Acts 8:3, 9:26-27, 22:19, 26:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:9, 1 Timothy 1:13

Thank God that when He forgives us, He no longer holds our sins against us - Psalm 32:1-2, 103:9-12; Hebrews 8:12

Let's pray that we can Show our Forgiveness to those who have offended us.

REMEMBER ... GOD WANTS YOU!!!!!

So What About Forgiveness? - Part 1

Forgiveness is both a wonderful and a complex topic to discuss. What does forgiveness mean? What does it look like? What does it feel like? How do we know we have received forgiveness? How do we know that we have given forgiveness to someone else? These are all important questions to ask, and that is why I have decided to write a multi-part blog series on this issue.

One of the central themes that runs throughout the Holy Bible is that God is a forgiving God.  The One who holds all power in the universe and beyond is repeatedly described as a loving, compassionate, merciful, and forgiving God. This should make every human heart sing, rejoice, and want to experience a personal relationship with this God!

The world we live in is often cold, heartless, judgmental, and very unforgiving.  People often think that they are punishing the offender by not forgiving them, when in actuality, the person who chooses NOT to forgive is the one who is held in captivity.  I want to first address the forgiveness that God extends toward us.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the God of Israel forgave His covenant Jewish people over and over again when they failed to keep all of His commandments.  Many times God would place His people into foreign captivity in order to discipline them for their disobedience to His word.  This was certainly true in 586 B.C. when God allowed King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army to enter into Jerusalem to destroy the city and the Holy Temple. The Babylonians carried off the surviving Jews and placed them into slavery for the next 70 years.  God allowed this to happen because He loved His people and wanted them to understand the seriousness of their sins. But God forgave His people, restored them, and brought them back to the Land of Israel.

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. - Micah 7:18

Throughout the Scriptures, even though God punishes His people for their sins, He also forgives them.  When God forgave Israel, it was an invitation for reconciliation. That simply means that God wanted a renewed relationship with His people.  What about you? Do you want God to forgive you of your sins? Would you like to become a more forgiving person? Would you like to experience the FREEDOM that comes from forgiveness? Check back later in future blogs to find out how you can experience the POWER of God through Forgiveness.  Till then ... Remember:

GOD WANTS YOU!!!!