Is this your attitude toward others… especially those who have wronged you in some way? Do you want them to pay in some fashion, to extract a price to secure your forgiveness? Or do you simply remind them of your magnanimous nature/behavior in forgiving such an action committed by them? Is there an addendum that tells us we can exact a payment for that forgiveness? I don’t think so.
Ephesians 2:1-10 gives us another reminder of who we were before Christ and who we’ve become as a result – but not just us – all, God, “…made us alive together with Christ.” How we must forgive is demonstrated by the Father’s behavior toward us, how He forgives. Just 3 scriptural reminders:
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you.” (Matthew 6:14)
“… forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
(Colossians 3:13)
“But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven
forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:26)
Mark’s comments are the strongest in terms of our requirement to forgive. To be forgiven we must forgive – no other option.
Another way of looking at this is – are we quick to judge? On what basis are you ‘judging’? Whose standards determine your response to (fill in the blank)? First – judging is something we all do, almost like this is on autopilot. And this determines what we do next. Judging appears to be a natural instinct but I would argue that it’s the context, the ‘object’ of our judging that is at issue. We are not given the prerogative to exact a punishment.
It isn’t always easy to walk in forgiveness. No one said it would be. It just happens to be what is required of us. However I know we sometimes want revenge… that’s not ours to determine. We can always, always walk in forgiveness when we realize our context that this is the basis we are forgiven. Justice or mercy? I want mercy for me so I must extend mercy to others.
