be set free

“But you don’t know what he did to me.” “They lied about me over and over again.” “She intended to destroy my career—and she did.” “You can’t imagine the hell I’ve been through.” “If you knew what this has done to my family, you would be angry too.” “They deserve to suffer like they’ve made me suffer.”

“I’m going to make them pay.” “My daughter was raped. How do you forgive that?” “I was sexually abused by a priest. How do you forgive that?” “If only the people who hurt me would show some remorse, some sorrow, then maybe I would forgive them.” “I will never forgive those people!”

C. S. Lewis made this remark: “Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.”

1. Forgiveness is the premier Virtue of Christianity. Consider Jesus’ Words “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” Luke 23:34

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” Luke 6:37 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” Matthew 6:14-15 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 “love … keeps no record of wrongs” 1 Corinthians 13:5

2. Forgiveness is difficult because we do not fully understand it. It does not mean approving of what someone else did. It does not mean pretending that evil never took place. It does not mean making excuses for other people’s bad behavior. It does not mean justifying evil so that sin somehow becomes less sinful. It does not mean overlooking abuse. It does not mean denying that others tried to hurt you repeatedly. It does not mean letting others walk all over you. It does not mean refusing to press charges when a crime has been committed.

It does not mean forgetting the wrong that was done. It does not mean pretending that you were never hurt. It does not mean that you must restore the relationship to what it was before. It does not mean that you must become best friends again. It does not mean there must be a total reconciliation as if nothing ever happened. It does not mean that you must tell the person that you have forgiven them. It does not mean that all negative consequences of sin are canceled.

“Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” Matthew 5:44 Test # 1 Praying for their Blessing!

Broken Relationships Emotional Confusion Poor Health Inability to Work Social Anxiety Periods of Depression Unexplained Anger or Rage Withdrawal or Reclusive Behavior Irrational Fears or Anxiety Chemical Dependencies Sexual or Physical Abuse Divorce, Suicide or even Murder Be Free

"To forgive is to set a prisoner free -- and discover the prisoner was YOU." (Lewis Smedes) 10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job 42:10