Though free for them, for you, for me, forgiveness was anything but free. Someone had to pay that cost, but it never could be me— Too full of my own impurity, I could never forgive to this immense degree. But Jesus can, and He did, and He does. And for those who believe, it’s still free.
When was the last time you stopped and pondered the concept of forgiveness? I mean, when you reflected deeply on what it means to completely forgive someone, to be truly forgiven?
Unfortunately, there are some words and phrases that we Christians have rehearsed, prayed, spoken, and believed for so long that we may find they’ve lost the gloss and shine of our initial encounter.
I was struck by this one, forgiveness, on a sunny October morning as I read through Tim Challies’ latest book, Pilgrim Prayers. It’s a small collection of poems, mostly from the 1800s, designed to enhance a time of quiet reflection. The somewhat antiquated phrasing takes the reader into deep and fresh petitions of the heart not often heard today.
The day’s reading featured a poem by Mary B. Sleight, a passionate plea for God to help her forgive others as He had forgiven her. I settled on the deck in the warm sun and read the words slowly and thoughtfully. And I won’t lie, my eyes began to grow heavy.
Yet as they drifted closed, I began to wonder, When was the last time I had to forgive someone? Not just for a harsh word or for a mistake, but for something that caused excruciating pain? I don’t know that I ever have.
Could I, though?
Could I forgive a sex trafficker who had sold my daughter? Could I forgive a drunk driver or a gang-banger who had killed my son? Could I forgive someone who hacked into our accounts and stole all our financial “security,” or hijacked our car and threatened my husband’s life in front of me?
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