Forgiveness

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness

and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Colossians 1:13-14

      As a parent, grandparent and teacher I have heard the words "I'm sorry!" a lot.   Hearing those little voices after being disciplined saying, 'I'm sorry" but not much feeling or sincerity shining through those words.  It becomes a habit to say them when you've made a mistake and ultimately been caught red handed.  We don't really mean it.  We really mean we are sorry we got caught.  I'm sorry for this and I'm sorry for that. Empty words that do not ring true.  We do this to God too.

      Until....something happens and the weight of the shame, the sorrow, the sin brings you to your knees.  Then we are pleading to our Father for forgiveness.  We are truly sorry.  When we fall on our knees in prayer acknowledging and confessing our sins to God, He hears us and forgives us. He takes away the guilt.  He remembers them no more.  Just as Colossians says,  "He delivers us from the domain of darkness",  we don't walk in that ugly dark place where our flesh wants to dwell.  We are washed whiter than snow when our sins are forgiven (Isaiah 1:18).

      When others have done something against us, it is more difficult to forgive.  We are not like God, we don't forget.  It isn't always easy to forgive someone, but it does bring peace to our own hearts when we do. But forgetting is never easy.  We dredge up the times when that person said this or that person did that and we keep rehashing all the events until our peace is gone.  We struggle to rid our minds of the reminders of the wrongdoing.   We may have forgiven but we have not forgotten.  This is where we need God's grace;  God's grace to not harbor bitterness or anger in our hearts. God's grace to erase those records of wrong and believe in the best of others.  This is only accomplished through prayer and relying upon God's words of forgiveness.  The Bible has many verses about forgiveness and forgiving.   God is quick to forgive us and we need to be the same to others and to ourselves. God is abundant in mercy and steadfast love to all of us that call upon His name. 

     Those little ones that come to me with their tales of woe, this person did that to me, I have told them they are not allowed to say, "I'm sorry",  they must ask the person who wronged them for forgiveness.  The wronged person would then have to say, "I forgive you".  I want them to know that there is more weight behind the words of forgiveness.  Forgiveness brings healing and peace first to yourself then to others.  Remember, we can forgive because He forgave us first. 

   "...forgive, and you will be forgiven."

Luke 6: 37