Forgive and Forget There was a time when I could honestly say: I would have written it shorter, if I had had more time. This I suppose doesn´t really qualify as a sermon. Call it an edification. There are calls to worship. Calls to love. Calls to reverence. Calls to praise. Calls to righteousness. This is a call to forgive. Luke 23:33-34 ESV And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (34) And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. Do you need someone to sit down and tell you that this is coming from a man who has been beaten, whipped, flogged, spat on mocked. One who was most likely bleeding from head to toe (Watch the Passion of the Christ if you want to see what Mel Gibson thought it was like). We used to say Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me. But nowadays we have seen the people driven to insanity, to suicide, to retribution via suicide bombing, to revenge in the form of murder! But this is not just that: This poor Jesus (If you have problems with that statement read 2 Corinthians 8:9) after having His great message trampled on. Being ridiculed by those who like moths to a flame: Came to Jesus quickly, and left Jesus quickly. Many of us would not just be sulking, we might be raving mad, I have seen firsthand the suffering that a body has to bear because some poor unwise soul dared to taunt a volatile flame. The engulfing rage that erupted from simple words. Now imagine: After all this undeserved punishment, Jesus was physically abused! He didn´t get the sticks or the stones, He got the beating of a lifetime! Some people scream or curse when they stub their toe playing football barefooted or running in slippers. Now just imagine having the toenail torn up, but not ripped out. Then pulled back all the way to the skin. 180 degree turn. Not a quick and easy little trick, like snapping someone´s head but imagine a slow, excruciating process with no regard for decency or delicacy. This is but a mere fraction of what Master Messiah suffered. Amidst all this, whilst being in this forsaken state: (Some argue that He was not nailed to a cross as tradition leads us to believe, but was on a pole or tree. Whatever it was, He was not on the ground. He was hanging by something. Mostly likely his flesh, perhaps held in place by a nail. ) Jesus the Savior was still willing to forgive. He asked His Heavenly Father to forgive those men. Why? Twas because they did not know what in the Devil´s name they were doing. 2 Corinthians 2:7-8 7 No, we declare Gods wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. And even if they had known what they were doing, I still think Jesus would have been willing of God to forgive, do you not? 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness This was not intended to be long, but it seems laziness has overcome me. I explained those verses a bit more, now you try to understand the following and apply them to your quotidian,that is: daily lives. Matthew 6:14-15 ESV For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Luke 17:3-4 ESV Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, (4) and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Matthew 18:21-22 ESV Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” (22) Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Luke 6:36-37 ESV Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (37) “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; Matthew 5:44 ESV But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Luke 6:27-36 27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunicb either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. So I implore you, forgive one another. I´m not asking you to be silly as I believe people must learn that for each action they make: There is a consequence. However in the words of a Jamaican pastor: if yu av peeple up inna yuh haart, a keep up bout ow dem do yuh dis an dat an ray ray, how in ´Ehven or pan ´Ert yuh expek God fi fagive you, wen a every day yah commit sin? Let Go and Let God. It can be hard but pray for God to help you. The little actions over time help to build character. Perhaps you can learn to make the choice of forgiveness and by your words and example someone else will learn to forgive. By making a difference with your life, you can help rebuild families: One person at a time. God be with you. Jonah Mc Jackline Manhertz Jodiann Manhertz Jeanell Evabless Warren Jeniel JamesJordon Hines Jacqueline Ramsay Jacqueline Thomas Jordan Green Jasmine Simmonds-Henry
Posted on: Sat, 15 Feb 2014 01:53:43 +0000
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