Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Forgiveness
11:35 AM
The other day during my New Testament class, the instructor told us that he had something he wanted to share with us, something he had been thinking about sharing with us for a couple of weeks but hadn't had the time to share yet. It was very interesting. Very thought provoking. So I thought I would share just as food for thought.
The Question: "Do you have a hard time forgiving others?"
Expanded: Maybe not others, just one or two people that hurt you? Maybe it was a really long time ago. Maybe it was serious, maybe it wasn't. Perhaps it was something very serious: your father or mother abandoned you (the instructor said this is one he hears about a lot), you were abused as a child, etc. These are very serious problems. These are very real happenings.
Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mark 11:25 - And when you stand praying [in faith], forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:26 - But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
The instructor said that Faith = Forgiveness. One thing that gets in the way of faith is our inability to forgive.
1 Sam 25 - (History) King David did many services for Nabal, sent men to be nice to him and help him shear his sheep, etc. Then when David was in trouble, he sent men to Nabal to ask him for food. Nabal says (v 10), "Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?", refusing to help David. As David is the king, he gets extremely angry and goes to kill Nabal. Some servants tell Nabal's wife, Abigail, that David is coming for revenge and justice.
Here is her story:
v. 18: Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed...
v. 23: And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
v. 24: And fell at his feet, and said, 'Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be'
v. 28: 'I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid'
This is a type of the Savior. Abigail (Christ) took upon herself the sins of her husband (you & I, Christ's children), and when David (judgment) came to make its demands, Abigail (Christ) took responsibility for those sins and submitted herself to the will of David (judgment) so her husband (you & I) wouldn't have to.
When we repent of our sins, we give them to Christ. He takes upon His shoulders, all the mistakes of the world. When we transfer our sins to the Savior, He becomes guilty and the one who answers to Justice so we don't have to. Christ becomes the 'guilty' one.
Now, imagine: You are upset with a person. This person comes to you, falls upon their face, bows to the ground, and says 'Please forgive me.' Now. Imagine this person is the Savior. This is what He does. He takes upon Himself the sins of the people around us, then comes to us and asks us to forgive Him.
Can you imagine? The Savior falling at your feet and saying, "Please forgive me."
What would you say to Him?
"Oh my goodness! Of course! You're the Savior. Get up. Get up. Of course I forgive you."
... ... ...
Something to think about.
Maybe we can't forgive a person. They abused us. Abandoned us. Betrayed us.
But the Savior has taken their sins upon Himself - just as He has taken ours. So it's not about them anymore. It's about Christ.
Can we forgive Christ?
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About Me
- Nashelle
- I am a wife, sister, daughter, friend. Dancer, actor, singer, pianist. Reader, sleeper, cross-stitcher, photographer. I am Nashelle and on this blog you will see me doing what I love to do best - being me!
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