Out Of the Prison Of Unforgiveness

Forgiveness is a deep human and spiritual need to set things right. We live in a broken and sin-fallen world. That means we are almost guaranteed to be offended. And in turn we ourselves will offend sometimes unintentionally and at other times we act deliberately to wound. The object of our offense are often those who are the closest to us. Family, friends and co-workers.

True forgiveness requires the power and grace of Christ. It's not something that comes naturally especially if the offense is something so grievous and horrific. Even Peter asked how many times he was to forgive his brother to which Jesus replied seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). The Lord was not giving a mathematical equation as if forgiveness was reduced to some workable formula by human endeavor.

Simply put, forgiveness is humanly impossible and much more difficult when a "brother or "sister" offends us. Family members knows us the best and can push our buttons to make us react badly.

Beloved, for the believer forgiveness is not optional. We are commanded to forgive regardless to what we feel about the person or to the measure of the offensive act committed against us. If we don't forgive we will find our selves imprisoned in a tormenting spiritual condition (Matthew 5:26). Let's be clear. Forgiveness is by no means to lessen the pain or dismiss the consequences of someone's offensive act.

We must believe God is judge of the all earth (Genesis 18:25) and is just in all His ways. He will deal with those who have deeply hurt us - yes, even for those who are still recovering from painful offenses.

When we chose to forgive we stand with Christ who forgave us - freely and with no condition - and from that position we can extend forgiveness as the Lord directs to those who offended us. My wife tells me when she became a Christian the Lord instructed her to forgive her father. So she wrote a letter to him. Whatever the response or reaction from him was not her goal but a freedom from the angry and pain that bound her heart. At last she was free to speak his name without bitterness and free to pray for him.

Forgiveness requires a sacrifice of human will and strength. It's not in us to forgive but with His power we can know a deep abiding freedom when we say goodbye to a prison of unforgiveness. And like Paul and Silas beaten and bound in prison chose to worship rather than nurse their offenses. Their chains broke off, the ground shook and the prisoners were set free. Even the jailer and his household accepted Christ as Lord.