Forgiveness

I had a wonderful chat not too long ago with a dear friend of mine on forgiveness. I grew up harboring thoughts of hate and pain towards people in my life. I grew up not forgiving people who hurt me, who abused my trust, who used me, and worse of all, the ones who abandoned me. It was not until I found true forgiveness in my heart that I was able to move on and really find God in my heart. I had to realize that I hurt just as many people, that I abused people's trust, that I back stabbed my friends and used people. I wanted to point out everyone's faults and try and climb the social ladder by standing on others by exposing their faults and issues.
Anyways, in this chat with my friend, I was talking about people leaving the village and how so many of them choose to point fingers and blame others for why they ended the way they did. I was one of those people. I wanted to count the millions of reasons I left. How hurt I was by people, no one loved me for me, I was looked down on for the things I did, no one would ever see me in a different light and so forth. Each and every person I know has done the same. Instead I realizing we were one of "those mean people" we want to be the victim that begs for the pity. We ALL have messed up in life. We ALL have sinned and brought shame to our Heavenly Father. We have ALL hurt and belittled others, looking down at someone below us. We have ALL totally messed up in life somewhere or another. So why is it so hard for us to be more forgiving of others faults? Do we want to "make them pay?" Or just move away and give them the I don't see you look? Maybe it's the "Let's lash out about others" on FB or some other type of blog. This is for everyone. Not just the people who have left but the people who remain bitter at the ones who left. This is for everyone who has made a place in their hearts for hate, bitterness, or rudeness towards someone. God has commanded us to FORGIVE. Not keep trying to ask for pity or post remarks about how you were so abused. At one point, we were the one abusing others. And by abusing, I mean looking down on, using your role to make others less then you or you to look better. Hurting others with your speech, your actions, or your emotions.
If we call ourselves Christians, then we have to grow up and be just that. Yes, I said it. Grow up. Don't spout out one second about how God is so wonderful then post some underlying comment about someone or someones you can't forgive. Quit using social media as your means of attacking others. Quit acting like a sweet wonderful believer then throwing careless words to the airways for the world to see.
I am going to post some song lyrics that really touched me and I hope you take a minute to really let them soak in and find that forgiveness to love and forgive. That same forgiveness Jesus gave us when he gave his life for us.


You must forgive,
Just as though they never sinned.
Though they cut your heart in two,
No matter what they do.
Will you forgive?

Though the knife is still in place,
Will your love like His erased
All the pain you had to face.
You must forgive.

And when you come to pray,
If you have anything against, anyone.
Count the debt as paid.
For yours was greater and forgiven,
By God’s son.

When you come,
to pray before my Father’s throne.
Just remember what you owe,
Don’t be throwing any stones.
And when you come,
Take your heart to him, and forgive.
For there is no other path to life,
No other way to live.
You must forgive.

And when you come to pray,
If you have anything against, anyone.
Just count the debt as paid.
For yours was greater and forgiven,
By God’s son.

When you come,
To lay your heart into His hands.
Jesus knows and understands,
The pain you feel, and yet commands,
You must forgive.



*** I love you all and pray you take this message as encouragement to find a deeper relationship with Christ through forgiveness of those who hurt us. I know people who have forgiven and loved those who have hurt them worse than any of us have been hurt. A mother who forgave her son's killer, then went on to take him in as her son after 20 years of prison. We must be willing to put aside hate and pull those shards of glass from our hearts and move on. Not move on in hate, but move on in love.
God bless!