Pearls of Forgiveness

Readings: Matthew 18 vs 21 to 35 Romans 12 vs 17 to 21

Betrayal / Hurt

What about you? Is there someone that has wronged you somehow at some stage & you have not forgiven him/her? Who is your Judas? Do you bear grudges? Do you struggle with forgiveness?

The devil will find a place to play BUT It is how we deal with it that matters

We have a choice.... Man’s Way Romans worshiped “Revenge” as one of their Gods The Jews – “” Eye for an eye” OR God’s way Revenge is mine says the Lord Father, forgive them for they know not what they do

As professing Christians we have only ONE choice What does the Word of God teach us?

Jesus our example Jesus was betrayed twice – in one day!!! When Jesus was betrayed he called Judas “Friend” and he prayed for Peter

So it is clear! Christ calls on us to forgive “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us”

Jesus’ first words on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” Most commonly forgiveness is interpreted to mean “to forget, to wipe out completely” as in Isaiah 43 vs 25 “I, even I, am he who blots out     your transgressions, for my own sake,     and remembers your sins no more.”

BUT.... The word Jesus uses here for “forgive” is the same as the word used in: Matthew 19 vs 14 when Jesus says to his disciples: “Don’t hinder them from coming to me!” After Jesus had been offered the sponge filled with vinegar and the crowd said “Leave him and let’s see if Elijah will come and free him”

So what Jesus was actually praying was .... Father don’t rush to show them your wrath hold back your punishment Give sinning and evil people a chance to repent! On the cross Jesus hung there experiencing the result of man’s twisted hatred yet He prayed “father forgive them ...

Also note! The verb “forgive” that Jesus uses is one that means continuous, repeated action – again and again and again!! The truth is simple – Jesus wants us, like him, to forgive 70 X 70! Hold back the wrath and anger but love unchangeably!

God is still holding back! What it also means is that Jesus’ prayer on the cross is still honoured by God today – it is called Common Grace Rain falls on the just and unjust Why evil people sometimes seem to prosper and good people don’t God is still holding back!

And how do we respond? Even to the minutest irritation? Life after Simba Debate around conditional versus unconditional forgiveness Man’s way says “say sorry before I forgive you!” Jesus says “I love you and there is nothing that you can do to make me love you more or less! I am love! Forgiveness is as unconditional as love is – two sides of the same coin! We are saved and forgiven ONLY through the grace of God Where would we be if God had waited for man to say sorry before sending his Son to die for us

God’s grace and forgiveness is free but not forced! There is a distinction between forgiveness and repentance God did not wait for man to repent before sending His son Jesus to die on the cross for us and thereby through His grace make forgiveness and salvation possible – it is there for all – unasked for! But it is through repentance that we allow God’s forgiveness to work in our lives – open the door to Him that knocks!

To Know God – is to understand forgiveness! God’s call on us is to emulate HIM in how we forgive Don’t wait for the apology Forgive even if you are not wrong

Pick up your cross and follow me! He who cannot, or does not want to, forgive is filled with bitterness Bitterness in turn robs you of peace Hebrews 12 verse 15: “See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” The acid of bitterness burns many around you Bitterness is driven by the defensiveness of SELF. Jesus calls on us to give up self! You cannot forgive if you are filled with self preservation!

So how are we to do this? Lessons from the lowly mollusc

Turning bitterness to pearls Betrayal is an intrusion into who & what we are Parasite or foreign body such as a sand grain intrudes into the mollusc As a defence mechanism the mollusc covers the foreign body with layer after layer of a substance called Nacre – it is an ongoing process – over and over again! Eventually this foreign body becomes hardened and the nacre turns into a beautiful pearl The pearl continues to grow in value and worth

And so it is with God’s children! We need to cover the intrusions into self with God’s grace and love We need to pay it forward continuously Be liberated from your bitterness by radiating God’s love all the time His Grace is sufficient for us If we don’t accept that we’ll be locked into self 2 Peter 3 vs 9: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish” This lies at the heart of forgiveness! His love and radiating his love is all that matters in creating pearls out of betrayal

Let’s watch a short video on God’s love

In conclusion Jesus saves us by His blood and mercy and yet we demand justice and the blood of our fellow man for their indiscretions Until you forgive Jesus cannot use you You cannot represent the God of mercy and love when you hold anger, grudges and bitterness in your heart May God bless you as you forgive your Judas and set him and yourself free