Easter is near. Thinking of this time, and reflecting on all that Christ endured, it makes me think about the cost of forgiveness… and unforgiveness.
Leading up to Easter this year, I have been re-watching previous seasons of series The Chosen. The next season comes this year around the Easter time frame.
I have just finished the last episode of season two. Most all of season two shows the humanness of the disciples. The episode I just finished shows them doing a lot of arguing amongst themselves. In one of the last scenes, a few of them end up ganging up on one individual. The way I saw it, they were bullying him by throwing past sins back at him. Then one character vehemently declares that he will never forgive him.
Ouch. It seems that the character was already having a hard time forgiving himself. The thing there is that Jesus had already forgiven him. Yet his past was being rewound as if his sins were unforgivable.
Forgiveness is a hard thing sometimes — both ways. People find it hard to forgive others. Then, sometimes, they find it hard to accept forgiveness and forgive themselves. It comes and goes in different forms.
- Forgiveness from God.
- Forgiveness of ourselves.
- Forgiveness from others.
- Forgiveness of others.
Forgiveness is a road we all have to walk. Sometimes that road is rockier than others.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:12-15 — American Standard Version)
Sometimes forgiveness does not mean reconciliation. Sometimes it means you have just lightened your load moving forward.
The cost of our forgiveness was too great for us to not forgive in return.
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What is your relationship to the all-knowing God of the universe? Do you know the peace that can come only from an intimate relationship with Jesus? You can know Him. Jesus Christ—God’s Son, born into human flesh, sinless, crucified and giving His life freely, buried, arisen on the third day—will come into your life and change the outcome of your eternity. You just have to be willing to believe and accept His truth. In addition, here is an excellent page that can give you additional information on peace with God: PeaceWithGod.net.
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Restricted Vision, Unburdened Sight 