By Nikieta Mandeville (Greater Taipei Church of Christ, TAIWAN)
It is so hard to forgive someone who has done us wrong and it is so easy for us to build up walls and close doors, shutting them out completely. We end up holding ourselves prisoners of hurt. We end up reliving the situation over and over in our mind and over analysing it. We try to find justification for what we are doing and allow our hearts to become hardened, while making room for hate to plant his seed.
In a bible study on Jesus’ Crucifixion at the Greater Taipei Church of Christ we looked back at Jesus, our greatest example. Even after He was wrongly convicted, scourged with a Flagrum, a crown of thorns placed on His head, forced to carry a heavy jagged wooden cross, and then nailed to it, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Wow! Even with all that He forgave them! In retrospect, it can be assumed that Jesus died at peace. He had completed His work and He forgave those that did Him wrong.
If only we can apply this same attitude, and refrain from adding insult to injury or rubbing salt in each other’s wounds the world can be a different place. The Bible also tells us how many times we should forgive. In Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” He didn't literally mean 70*7=490 times, He meant that we should always forgive, never stop forgiving, God never stops forgiving us for our wrongs nor does He have a finite number of times He will forgive us, so why should we?
There is a quote that I like a lot, not sure who wrote it but it goes, “You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy.” Get rid of the hurt, stop keeping ourselves prisoners. I want to leave you with my recipe for forgiveness (cause I love to cook so it’s only fitting).
It is so hard to forgive someone who has done us wrong and it is so easy for us to build up walls and close doors, shutting them out completely. We end up holding ourselves prisoners of hurt. We end up reliving the situation over and over in our mind and over analysing it. We try to find justification for what we are doing and allow our hearts to become hardened, while making room for hate to plant his seed.
In a bible study on Jesus’ Crucifixion at the Greater Taipei Church of Christ we looked back at Jesus, our greatest example. Even after He was wrongly convicted, scourged with a Flagrum, a crown of thorns placed on His head, forced to carry a heavy jagged wooden cross, and then nailed to it, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Wow! Even with all that He forgave them! In retrospect, it can be assumed that Jesus died at peace. He had completed His work and He forgave those that did Him wrong.
If only we can apply this same attitude, and refrain from adding insult to injury or rubbing salt in each other’s wounds the world can be a different place. The Bible also tells us how many times we should forgive. In Matthew 18:21-22, “Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” He didn't literally mean 70*7=490 times, He meant that we should always forgive, never stop forgiving, God never stops forgiving us for our wrongs nor does He have a finite number of times He will forgive us, so why should we?
There is a quote that I like a lot, not sure who wrote it but it goes, “You will find that it is necessary to let things go; simply for the reason that they are heavy.” Get rid of the hurt, stop keeping ourselves prisoners. I want to leave you with my recipe for forgiveness (cause I love to cook so it’s only fitting).
 | RECIPE FOR FORGIVENESS Servings: Unlimited Time: Immediately Ingredients: 3 Cups Love 1 Carton Acceptance 1 Cup Peace 1 ½ Cups of Forget 2 ¾ Cups of Time 2 ¾ Cups Prayer 4 Tbsp Strength 2 Tbsp Tears or more if desired (optional) | DIRECTIONS: Cream equal cups of time and prayer allowing hurt to disappear, tears can be added at this time if you desire. Whisk the acceptance and strength to move forward, then add to mixture. Next mix in love and forget thoroughly. Finally, add peace. And viola! Your recipe of forgiveness is complete. |
