Learning to Forgive? Can I?

“That friend of ours with no false humility used to say, ‘I haven’t need to learn how to forgive, because He taught  me how to love.” (Escriva)

We know we need to forgive people- yet some people are so difficult to forgive….we struggle to find the inner strength to overlook our pain, to ignore that inner call to get revenge, or to overcome the fear that we will again find ourselves betrayed, broken and in pain…..

Let’s face it -we don’t have such strength – and while we can learn of the need to forgive – and the benefit to both the one forgiven, and the one who forgives, there are still those times… sigh…where we cannot.

It is then we look to Christ- and perhaps with some guilt and shame – hear His words, “forgive our sins, as we forgive those…” and we wonder if we will ever be saved. 

The secret sn’t to find the fortitude – it’s to be taught to love.  The love of Christ, looking down on us, saying “Father forgive them…”   If you find you can love them – you will forgive them….you will look for ways to heal the broken relationship, to find a way to reconcile – you will be the one desiring to take the first step -whether you are the one needing to forgive, or be forgiven.

And how are we taught to love… by looking to, by adoring, by seeing Christ with you…..

So even as you have trusted in God to forgive you, let Him truly teach you that is it because of love…that He sent Jesus..

Go in His peace…to love..today.

About justifiedandsinner

I am a pastor of a Concordia Lutheran Church in Cerritos, California, where we rejoice in God's saving us from our sin, and the unrighteousness of the world. It is all about His work, the gift of salvation given to all who trust in Jesus Christ, and what He has done that is revealed in Scripture. God deserves all the glory, honor and praise, for He has rescued and redeemed His people.

Posted on June 14, 2012, in Devotions and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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