The Forgotten Command

The Forgotten Command


"Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." Luke 23:34 NIV

Of all the hard sayings in scripture, forgiveness seems to me still the most peculiar prospect. You see, I am happy to give up my coat. I'll gladly walk an extra mile. Given the right circumstances, I might even turn the other cheek. I suspect that my willingness to carry out these acts, though they are hard to do, hinge on the fact that they carry their own sense of glory. People applaud an individual that can face evil and walk a "higher path". But for some reason, forgiveness does not work that way. I think we chide forgiveness because it works against our human sensibilities. Forgiveness has an implied sense of weakness, of letting someone take advantage of you. Forgiveness implies that justice has not been upheld.

The idea of forgiveness is not a human notion. It is something that comes from God. God awakens us to it by first, making us recipients of it. God enables us to do it and He uses it to set us free. But wouldn’t it be truly ironic if the very people that are recipients of so much forgiveness were stingy on giving it out? It would be bizarre to have received so much and pay out so little. After having received so much from God you would think that love and forgiveness would be our primary and most distinguishing marks?

The scripture says that if you forgive others, God will forgive you. But if you slack off of forgiving others, God will not forgive you. (Matthew 6:14-15). We are told to forgive each other in the same way that Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). And my mind is running to the words of John 14:15, "If you love me, you will obey me."

The more I think about these words I am drawn to the conclusion that it may be better to reconcile and to fully forgive, than to try and rely so heavily on grace as an excuse for a stubborn heart.