Have you ever done anything wrong? I have.
During karate class, because I failed to follow safety procedures, I broke one of my 7-year-old grandson's front teeth. There was no one on the face of the Earth that I loved more and wanted to please more than my father (now deceased). However, in 1967, I greatly embarrassed him. I once took unfair advantage of a friend's generosity. I have made a lot more mistakes than these, but you get the idea. We are all sinners. We are automatically inclined to do the wrong things. Unless we are constantly on guard, we will make mistakes we would not, otherwise, make. That is our "nature".
I am ashamed of myself for the mistakes I have made. Even when I try to be good, I am, often, bad. Even when I try to do right, it seems I do wrong. No matter how hard I try - I seem to think wrong, evaluate situations wrongly, say the wrong things and do wrong. (Romans 7:24). The last few mornings, my rising prayer to God has been very simple; "God, help me be good today, in Jesus' name. Amen." Sometimes, I feel like doing nothing at all for fear I will do something wrong.
The reality is that the more we do, the more likely we will do something wrong. Those who do nothing, will do nothing wrong because they are "non-participants" and "non-producers". If you are a great contributor of effort at work, at home or in church, you can expect to make some mistakes.
If you want others to forgive you for your shortcomings, be ready and eager to forgive others of their shortcomings. Scripture states, God, "forgive us in the same way we forgive others." (Matthew 6:12, 14).
In my 63-years of life and 42-years of ministry, I have discovered that those who do not forgive are, usually, those who are doing the least. Those who hold grudges in the home and in the church who hold grudges and have a critical, non-forgiving spirit are, generally, those who contribute little or nothing in the "spiritual realm".
Scripture is very clear; we are to be "forgiving" people. (Ephesians 4:32, Luke 17:3-4). Those that readily, eagerly and quickly forgive are "godly". Those who do not readily, eagerly and quickly forgive are "ungodly." It is that simple! No amount of justification or rationalization can or will change that fact. Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruit." (Matthew 7:16). Professing Christians that do not forgive with ease produce stinking fruit. God deals harshly with such people. (Matthew 18:22-35). Those who eagerly and graciously forgive others, are a sweet aroma to God and to everyone else around. One of the most potent evidences of the unregenerate is lack of forgiveness. However, we who are forgiven of much find forgiving others of much less, very easy.
I love to forgive. Do you? If so, today is a great day for celebration. If not, today is a great day for repentance.
Rev. Joda Collins
Milton, FL 32583
The theology and views expressed, herein, are mine.
I sometimes find it hard to forgive simply because the person I am forgiving has "done it again". Like Simon Peter, I need to be reminded that we need to forgive over and over again. But when I am tempted to not forgive I get so miserable that I can't stand it. For me to forgive is a necessity. I cannot have a joyful, peaceful life without forgiveness. So I forgive and then the peace and joy return.
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