Forgiveness in our day and age is not a daily conversation piece. We don’t typically say to the guy who cut us off at the light, “I know you’re probably in a hurry. I forgive you.”
We don’t often use the words, “I forgive you.” We also don’t often say to ourselves, “You are forgiven.” I have been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately. Namely how I don’t deserve it, and I don’t extend it to others often enough either.
Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt that no matter how much you plea, pray or beg, you will never be forgiven? Have you ever said to yourself, “God could never forgive me for that thing I did”?
If you have ever found yourself thinking or feeling this way, do I have a GOD for you!
I recently explained to someone that I was struggling with feeling forgiven and accepting God’s forgiveness. I even went as far as to say, “I don’t believe in it… forgiveness that is.”
What a sad moment that was, to admit openly that I didn’t believe in forgiveness. As quickly as it came out of my mouth, I realized why I felt that way. I didn’t feel I deserved to be forgiven.
This is the truth, and it is true for all of us: We have a God who loves us unconditionally no matter what — no matter what — no matter what! Nothing can separate us from God’s love, not sin, not death, nothing.
We don’t deserve to be forgiven, true. But because of Jesus, we are forgiven unconditionally through the grace of God.
I read a story not too long ago from a great book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, by Brennan Manning. It went something like this:
Word reached a bishop that a woman in his diocese was seeing visions of Jesus. Being a practical man he decided to check the rumors out. There is a fine line between mystical events and hallucinations.
The bishop asked the woman if it was true, that she was seeing visions of Jesus. Yes, was her reply.
Well, the next time you talk to Jesus please ask him to tell you the sins I acknowledged at my last confession.
After some time had passed the woman contacted the bishop and told him that she experienced another vision of Jesus.
Did you ask him about the sins I confessed? he asked.
Yes, I did.
What did Jesus say?
“Bishop,” she said, “these are his exact words: ‘I CAN’T REMEMBER.’”
If you are anything like me, you probably read those last words and had to remind yourself to breathe.
You might also be thinking, “Really?!?” I am here to tell you that God does forgive you. Freely and entirely!
The power of forgiveness is incredible alone, but the knowledge of realizing that you are truly forgiven, that is liberating.
Thanks be to God, who forgives and forgets!
Originally posted October 5, 2010, at Kaleidoscope Faith. Republished with permission of the author. Find a link to Joseph Murdy’s entry at Lutheran Blogs.
