Forgiveness: Acknowledging the Wrong
My mind cannot get around the true concept of forgiveness… To even begin to understand how I can forgive, I have to continue my look at the source of true forgiveness… I have to look at my Savior Jesus.
John 3:16 says…
“For God so loved the world that He gave His One and only Son (Jesus) that whoever believes in Him will not die… but have eternal life!”
We learn in Romans that the wages of sin… the cost of sin, is death…
We also learn in Romans that ALL have sinned… we are all in the same boat here – and fall short of the glory of God.
This is why Jesus came… and THIS is what He forgave.
But, let’s back up a bit and look at the life of Jesus and some of His words as He walked this road to forgiveness… demonstrated by His dying on the cross.
In Luke 9:22 and Matthew 16:21 Jesus predicts His death… He says that He will be rejected… that He will suffer many things… and that He will be killed.
The first stop in this journey to forgiveness is to acknowledge the wrong against us.
In the last post about forgiveness, we looked at how when we are the one forgiving, we are allowing ourselves to experience freedom from the wrong that was against us. In order to be free from the wrong against us… we have to acknowledge it.
As I have been on my own journey here… I’ve come to realize just how hard this is. Sure, sometimes the wrong that we are seeking to forgive is obvious… but sometimes we see things through a filter of sorts – like rose-colored glasses – and we struggle to really name what it is we need to forgive.
I have found that having one or two close friends to confide in has helped me tremendously in recognizing what I need to forgive… The most powerful thing I have experienced this last year is that of having my close friends praying for me.
If you are in this place… seeking to forgive… trying to understand what the wrong is that you need to forgive… go to the Lord! Sit at His feet and ask Him to open your eyes. Pray for clarity and wisdom.
James 1 says that if we ask for wisdom from the Lord… then He promises to give it GENEROUSLY! It is a blessing that He is just waiting to pour on us!
This is part 4 in a series on Forgiveness…
You can start with Part 1: Forgiveness HERE.
Or skip to Part 2: Forgiveness is a free gift HERE.
You can start with Part 1: Forgiveness HERE.
Or skip to Part 2: Forgiveness is a free gift HERE.
