Unforgiveness: The Big Blocker

Matthew 6:12 - 15
12And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Luke 6:37
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

We often take for granted the power and freedom that is ignited by capitalizing on the gift of forgiveness. It is a concept that goes beyond the humanly logical standards of life and is uniquely fashioned for those wanting to optimally experience the essence of a whole, healed and ultimate Christian life.

We know without a doubt that we are to forgive. Everyone knows “seventy times seven times.” So the question isn’t the IF’ness of forgiveness. No, the core issue is how we forgive. What does true forgiveness look like?

I know, I know. I, like you, have subscribed to the tiered forgiveness trap. Let me show you.

Tier One: Back to the Future Forgiveness
I guess I will be able to forgive you one day.

Tier Two: Forget-This-Not Forgiveness
I forgive you, but I won’t be forgetting this.

Tier Three: Fear-filled Forgiveness
I forgive you, but I’ll keep my distance.

Tier Four: Live and Learn Forgiveness
I forgive you, but I don’t completely trust you because now I know what you have the capacity to do.

Tier Five: The God Kind Forgiveness, The Only True
You did what?

Our tiered approach to forgiveness is unfortunately often, (with the exception of some extreme situations) a cop out and, fearfully so, a sad method of self-appeasement. We feel like we’ve done what we were supposed to do, saying, “Oh, I’ve done the best I can” or “I tried” or “I’m not God.” But all we’ve done is lowered the standard of God’s intent to make ourselves feel better. We often forget that Jesus didn’t come so that the facets of our lives as Christians would be easy, but Jesus came so that they could be possible.

We fail for one major reason. We depend on our own minimal power to forgive, which compared to God’s empowerment is nothing more than laughable. The key to forgiveness is to realize that the only way for it to happen is by dependence on God’s power working in and through us to do it.

God’s very love sets the standard for our forgiveness. He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1: 9). He said he would forgive us of wickedness and would REMEMBER our sins NO MORE (Jeremiah 31:34b). Sounds like forgive and forget to me…

And not only that, John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave….” God’s fore-giving (giving restoration PRIOR to offense) sets the framework for how our forgiving (giving restoration AFTER offense) is supposed to look. The foundation of our faith is God’s sacrifice for reconciliation. God’s love gift (Jesus) was given to reconcile us to Him. Our vileness merited the need for forgiveness even prior to the reality of our offense. But His love for us carried the burden of restoring us back to a place of wholeness and completeness and unlimited fellowship with Him, independent of the extremity of our iniquity. Simply put: If we repent, we get the gift.

That’s what His forgiveness looks like. Pure. Without resentment. Forgetting the past. Clean slate. Back to square one. (My Lord!) Just like new. Unabated, unadulterated, unlimited. Complete and unconditioned. Reconciled.

We have a long way to go.

Prayer: Lord forgive me. Forgive me Lord, because I haven’t been able to forgive. Forgive me because sometimes I don’t even want to forgive. And forgive me Lord, because I have been depending on my own power to do something that only you can. Father, I want to unblock the power and freedom and faith and forgiveness that has been hindered by my lack of forgiveness. Teach me everyday to grow in your love and your forgiveness and in faith. Live in me, moment by moment, and I will be sure to give you all the praise. In the matchless name of Jesus, who made forgiveness possible for me. Amen.