Just last week, we visited the powerful sermon from Jesus on the beatitudes. In this, we looked at what it means to have a better attitude with Gods help and direction, plus what it means to be blessed; then to challenge ourselves to be the attitude of God, and not just read about it. In the Gospel Reading of Luke today, we are going to look a little further into A Spectrum of Love called ‘Forgiveness’. Without a doubt, one would have to meditate on this passage of scripture a little longer than most, mainly because of the huge complexity we humans make of the subject. So immediately following the sermon of Beatitudes, Jesus tells us this, “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who are abusive to you.”
Suppose I was to think about this statement of instruction initially. Some people may think and even believe it's possible Jesus was NOT making this instruction to be heard by anyone of his inner circle, disciples, and followers, but just to those the people of the day that was Jesus true enemy. Without going any further, I wanted to clarify: who was Jesus’s audience? He said I say to you who hear! Basically, anyone who hears Gods words, by way of the ear, by way of the spirit, or even reading of lips. No one is exempt from this!
Knowing forgiveness is a hard pill to swallow for so many of us, I am not presuming any radical claim from Jesus or giving any false sense of predisposition. In hearing God's word today, I want you to try and comprehend what is being said from our Lord. As stated in the Gospel of John Chapter 8, “The one who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” So let us hear his word today.
Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic from him either. Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. Treat people the same way you want them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. But love your enemies and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil people. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
There is so much material here to cover, and I could not do it in todays setting. But in the concept of Love and Forgiveness, I wanted to touch base on a few of them. In really visiting these words of Jesus, He presents us with the sense of God's ultimate Glory and, in the same breath, humbles us to the dust with the consciousness knowing we cannot do these things of ourselves! We are utterly incapable of Love and Forgiveness without God.
Another herb to add to the mixture here is nowhere do feelings and emotions play a role! When Jesus mentioned, “If you do good to those who love you, what credit is that to you?” Giving out of generosity to those who care about it has its own reward, but here Christ is telling us to go beyond that! Our feelings and emotions are not on trial here, but instead we are to question what we think and feel! Is it Godly, is it moral, is it just, is it pure, is it honor worthy, and so on. Jesus is not asking to bring our feelings and emotions which we cannot control, Love does not mean some artificially created sentiment. Love does not mean we force ourselves to expect a response back the way we want it. To Love is not necessarily to like based upon our feelings and emotions. To Love is a choice! Is it not written in 1 Corinthians “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
But when we think about the Golden Rule, “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you,” how do we love ourselves?. One reason is the matter of self! What do we desire for ourselves. Respect, as Aretha Franklin so beloved sang. Dignity, honor, Love and so much more. We desire greatness. In the midst of this greatness, where does forgiveness fit in?
Do we look into the mirror or photos and not see the same person others see us as? I know I do! I sometimes call myself names, knowing it's harmful and not accurate, but I still do it.
If you think about it, it's easier to Love ourselves than to Love and even forgive our worse enemy. When we find a good thing the world seems to have for us, we tend to cling to it like having a drowning victim in the ocean clinging onto the life raft for dear life. How can we give of ourselves when we brag, become arrogant, border selfishness, nurture pride, and fuel our waves of anger. How can we forgive! The answer to that question is we can’t do it! Not without God!
A little boy, being asked what forgiveness meant, gave this beautiful answer: "It is the fragrance that flowers breathe when they are trampled upon."
There are times I have come across genuinely evil people, and I leave scratching my head thinking how could God really forgive such a bad person. But when I think more and more about it, what did Christ do for each of us? He surrendered all for us, to save us in the end. The most harden sinner to the most dedicated church member, God, by way of the cross, saved each of us. SO again, where does forgiveness fit in all of this?
Paul tell us in his letter to the Ephesians, “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” When paul says Be, I would think Become is more accurate. As Christians we should instead display kindness, compassion, and forgiveness, no matter what it is, however, I know its easily said, verses easily done. Another part of forgiveness Paul tells us in his letter to the collossians, “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so must you do also.” Basically, it requires give and take.
Friends, remember this, to forgive is a must, mainly because God first forgave each one of us. We each do not deserve salvation, mercy, grace, we each deserve death. But guess what, with Gods ultimate Love from who he is Love in every sense of the word, He freely gave mercy, grace, and forgiveness to us. So to put on Christ in every area of our lives, forgiveness is one of them. There is a lot about the subject I do not fully understand, yet scripture gives us several examples.
In the book of Genesis, we find the story about Joseph, a well favored man whom his father Jacob loved very much. Being hated by his many brothers, he ultimately was sold into slavery and left for dead, out of site and out of mind. During Josephs many years away, God protected Joseph, from his mistreatments, to his promotion to prefect over all of Egypt only second to the King of Egypt. In the end, a great famine came upon the land that God told Pharoh in a dream, and Joseph deciphered it. This is what saved everyone, even his own family.
Unknown to the brothers of Joseph, they came to Egypt to buy food which the famine stretched even to their lands, and Joseph spotting them right off knew what had to be done. In the end of his well played actions, and Joseph said, “Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to save lives.”
Even to this point, Joseph, weeping and crying, forgave his brothers knowing God forgave him and all Israel time and time again. In addition as Joseph said, “What you meant for evil, God meant it for good!”
Look at Jonah encounter with the large city of Ninevah. Over 100,000 people, separate from God, and Jonah was instructed to go tell them in 30 days you will be destroyed. Not known to Jonah at the time, God had a awesome plan of redemption for that great city. And indeed, forgiveness was given to them, by their obedience to God in the end.
In 2019, former Police Officer Amy Guyger was charged and convicted of murder. The brother of the victim, Brandt Jean's, made a compelling statement of forgiveness while asking the Judge "I don't know if this is possible, but can I give her a hug, please?" The judge granted it, and Brandt Jean continued, “I love you as a person, and I don't wish anything bad on you. If you truly are sorry, I know I can speak for myself, I forgive you. And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you, I was not going to ever say this in front of my family or anyone, but I don't even want you to go to jail. I want the best for you, because I know that's exactly what Botham would want you to do. And the best would be to give your life to Christ”.
Forgiveness! Yes, it can be done! One of a most sincere acts of obedience in the face of adversity is forgiveness. Without rectifying forgiveness, a person can literally eat themselves up inside, with anger, hate, major depression and anxiety not to mention many health problems that come with it.. And during the times of distress, forgiveness seems to be too far off to obtain, but there is hope my friends. For forgiveness to be both obtained and given, we must always remember, Christ is the center of it all. Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
So if you believe you cannot forgive, cannot surrender to Christ, cannot do things needed to serve God, your correct! We cannot do nothing apart from Christ, however, God tells us from Ezekiel 36, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Louise P. Heckman
Forgive me Lord
For the wrongs I have done.
For anger I shouldn’t have
Against anyone.
I know I’m weak Lord,
But I love You, I really do,
And in spite of my weakness,
I know You love me too.
Forgive me for not reading Your word,
And for the times that I stray.
Forgive me for just being too tired
When I don’t take the time to pray.
Give me the strength, Lord
To do what I should each day.
Let Your love shine through me
So others will follow Your way.
Even though I’ve failed You Lord,
I know You’ll forgive me,
And this I promise Lord,
A better Christian I will be.
For Your presence is in me
Filling my heart with Your love,
And I have Your reassurance
You’re guiding from above.
I love You Lord, and thank You
For the blessings You bestow,
I will tell others about You
So Your goodness they too, will know.