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This past
Sunday, I have to tell you I cannot remember all the minister was
saying. However I can tell you the following phrase still resonates
with me today. “Forgive, because you have been
forgiven.”
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Now there was
a sermon attached to this statement and it had a lot to do with not
being able to let go of your past, being a captive of your
transgressions, not being worthy of God’s forgiveness. The point
that I took away is the difficulty in accepting the fact that you
are forgiven.
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A good
portion of the sermon focused on one’s inability to move on after
people close to you have wronged you. They have gone on about their
lives, but we stay stuck in that moment of pain. It cripples us and
robs us of what life offers today. It becomes our virtual prison
that sometimes we can’t see or understand.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>We cannot see it or understand it because we cannot get past what so resonated with me on Sunday. It really is easier to forgive others than it is to forgive yourself. Remember my phrase, forgive because you have been forgiven? At first, it sounded like forgiving others was the requirement of God to get on with the things He has prepared for you.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>But as I contemplated, it became clearer to me that God was saying, get past all the junk and guilt and embarrassment and sin in your life, so I can do my work through you. “Forgive (yourself) because I have forgiven you.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Some of you might begin to see why the resonation continues. Not forgiving others is an excuse for not forgiving yourself and your virtual prison does not allow you to see the real impediment to your spiritual freedom. While focused on past transgressions made against you by others, you miss the opportunity to let it go because you’re afraid if you do, you have to deal with your past life and your transgressions against others, yourself and God.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>This may sound complicated but it’s not. Liken it to a fear of success, not failure. Why would anyone be afraid of success? This fear is based on a belief that you cannot succeed, don’t have it in you. Why should you think you can succeed when your life and the people in it have consistently told you, you would never amount to anything.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>God bless those who have overcome this. God bless those who are able to listen to Him and believe they can accomplish anything. Forgive because you have been forgiven. Sounds like a plan to me.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>God is simply pointing the way for you to fulfill His destiny for you. But first you must recognize and accept that in spite of all the crap you have done, been involved with and thought you couldn’t do without matters not. God was there saw it all and still in spite of you forgave you. He’s just waiting on you to realize it so He can do great things through you. I know. It’s a “helluva” thing to deal with. But fortunately for us, once done, it’s a “heavenuva” thing live with. Now this is what I call living it up!
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>May God bless and keep you always.
