Forgiveness

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32, NIV

I know, I always use animal photos in my visual aids and use them as examples in my writings but they are my gift and my passion! Besides, they can always show us how forgiveness works, can't they? You can be angry with them and they'll still shower you with love. Our God in heaven is like that. He forgives us if we but ask Him to and are repentant in our hearts. The funny thing is, we often aren't nearly as generous as our Holy and Sovereign God. We struggle with forgiveness. I heard this message about forgiveness ALL week so I know emphatically that God is wanting me to GET this!

I remember Corrie Ten Boom telling a story about how she had to forgive the very SS Nazi soldier who tortured her and others in the concentration camp in Germany during WWII. She could not do it on her own forgiveness. She prayed fervently as this man approached her after a speech she'd given, to shake her hand and wonder aloud at the forgiveness of God. Corrie did not want to shake his hand and she did not want to forgive this man that had been so horrible to her during her incarceration and caused the loss of her sister's life.

She prayed and asked God to give her HIS forgiveness because she could not forgive this man. When their hands made contact she felt a warm love flooding through her for this man and knew that it was the love of God pouring through her out to the man who had been her tormentor. God was showing her His forgiveness and through it, she was able to forgive this man.

I've been struggling with forgiveness and I know it's why it's come up so much lately in the radio shows I've listened to, to the devotionals I read online, etc. It's a recurring theme in my life lately. I also heard John McArthur teach on one of his radio shows last week about forgiveness. It was his words that really struck me in my heart.

When we don't forgive, plain and simple, we are saying we are above God. It's our pride that is keeping our hearts from forgiving. When we don't forgive we're saying that God could forgive by sending His only begotten Son to die on a Cross for us -He who was without sin -who took our place, but that we can't.

Jesus willingly came down from glory in Heaven, to live a very humble existence as a human, born in the lowliest of forms, to die the most humiliating and agonizing death for us who are not worthy and He's the King of Heaven! He humbled Himself in order that we might be spared eternal separation from God and damnation. He forgave us our sins through His death on the cross and resurrection.

How then can we not forgive? I remember John McArthur saying that if we humble ourselves to the point of always putting others first, putting them above us, knowing they are better than us, then we won't be able to NOT forgive. Why? Because when people reject us or hurt us we'll feel they were justified and we won't react in our pride of unforgiveness. By considering them our betters, we won't be offended at things they say or do to us in other words. Wow, that is hard!

Now isn't that just so contrary to the world system and what we're told here on earth? We're told to "get ours" to stand up for ourselves, to not get mad get even and so on. That is NOT what God wants for us though. The world system will always be contrary to God's way. Just as God's measurement of success is far different than the world's. Jeremiah being a prime example. He was poor, lowly, abused, rejected, ridiculed but ultimately he was right wasn't he? He didn't have to justify or defend himself, the Lord did that for him. In fact, in God's eyes Jeremiah was very successful because he was obedient and faithful to God. Rather than being angry or even vengeful, Jeremiah wept for his nation and people, no matter what they did to Him. Why? Because he was not only a humble, forgiving man but because He believed God!

So, the next time you're thinking you can't forgive someone, just remember what Jesus did for us and then ask yourself, are you better than Jesus that you can't forgive -no matter what it is? Especially when God forgives us all the time. I know I can't do it on my own, but as I've stated before I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength. He also gave me His forgiveness and it's His forgiveness that lives in me through His Holy Spirit.

Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care consultant. You can find her at Aspenbloom Pet Care or her dog's blog at Bark 'n' Blog

Obama taps into our yearning for meaning, spirituality Detroit Free Press, United States - Nov 19, 2008 In that study, spirituality was defined as caring about the condition of others and of the world. It's easy to see how Obama's rhetoric would appeal to them ...

Oneindia

Spirituality Is An Intimate Experience Oneindia, India - Nov 19, 2008 Everything about spirituality is personal, intimate, and quiet. This is the exact opposite of how the outer world functions. My spiritual experience is more ...

Nature inspires a spiritual streak in us that usually doesn’t ... Cascadia Weekly, washington - 11 hours ago Raised in a non-religious household, he didn’t realize he was developing a unique brand of spirituality that typifies our part of the world, ...

New book calls for "spirituality of place" in Pacific Northwest Vancouver Sun,  Canada - Nov 18, 2008 They maintain that while the residents of Cascadia are often not traditionally religious, many experience a spirituality based on the stunning natural ...

The Southern Ledger

Ignoring Prop. 8 backers' spirituality Mormon Times, UT - Nov 14, 2008 By Joel Campbell What's missing from most of the news reporting about the Proposition 8 backlash is equal time and space to the value of a spiritual ... Today in the Bloggernacle Mormon Times all 766 news articles

Addiction treatment specialist Chicago Tribune, United States - Nov 17, 2008 "What I think is so important is that Marty was a very spiritual person and that he always incorporated the concept of spirituality in not only the recovery ...

Spirituality: Military spouses also have to ‘volunteer' Ithaca Journal, NY - Nov 15, 2008 By Norris Burkes • Gannett News Service • November 15, 2008 This year, I couldn't help but think of the documentary I brought home a few months ago. ...

The Problem With Christianism Atlantic Online - 12 hours ago Nor am I one of those who think that to exalt religion in the eyes of the people and to do honor to the spirituality of religious teaching, ...

‘Spirituality’ depends on community Bangor Daily News, ME - Nov 14, 2008 By Lee Witting I’m not religious, but I’m spiritual.” It’sa phrase I hear more and more these days. What does it mean? Generally, it means the speaker does ...

Grow your spirituality through prayer Bradenton Herald,  United States - Nov 14, 2008 When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them “The Lord’s Prayer.” Right after that, Jesus taught a parable that illustrates the ...