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!!!!!