Choosing to forgive

At the heart of the Easter message is the reward that comes from choosing to receive total forgiveness for our wrongs but also the freedom that comes from being able to pass total forgiveness forward to others. Easy to say but hard to do!

Our tendency is to demand that we be compensated when wrongly treated but that we ourselves be 'let off the hook' by others when we are wrong. The cycle of self vindication whether we consider ourselves right or wrong, keeps pointing the finger of judgement back towards ourselves. This ugly cycle can be broken. This is what Christ did for all humanity at Calvary. He broke the cycle by becoming sin for us and at the same time forgiving all of humanity for its sin. He paid the penalty for our wrongs. but for us to be free we have to choose to receive total forgiveness for our sins.

The test as to whether we have received total forgiveness or not, is whether we are free to pass it forward to others. Joseph , over a twenty two year period learned to pass forward total forgiveness to his brothers who had plotted his demise. (Gen.37-50) Learning to practice forgiveness is not easy especially when you have been unfairly treated by others.It's one thing to acknowledge what we have done wrong but it is another thing to let go all judgement toward those who have wronged us. This is a vicious cycle to contend with. It is vicious because when you are wanting justice and vindication, while you are 'waiting', you are still a victim. You are paralysed from being able to move ahead in life.

The only way to ahead is know that Christ totally forgives us personally. I choose to forgive others, not because it is easy but because Christ has forgiven me. (Col.3:13) Forgiveness like love, is a choice, not a feeling. When you are hurting you never feel like forgiving the person that hurt you. But if you choose to forgive and keep repeating the process eventually the chains of hurt and offence will drop off. Then we will arrive at the place where we can even bless those that have hurt us. This is powerful! This is what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Only then do we begin to experience resurrection life for ourselves. Only then will we begin to grow forwards. Forgiveness will clear the way so that we can grow and not just go through daily life.

This is a bit like climbing a mountain. It is hard work and at times you seem to be descending  into valleys rather than climbing upward but if we persist we will reach the summit. I am convinced that the best view of life, of God, of other and of myself comes from the summit of forgiveness. The highest height that we can ever scale this side of heaven is to see God, ourselves and others through the lens of total forgiveness. Keep climbing! The view will be worth it!








This blog by Ross Smith is based on a series of messages on forgiveness during March 2016 at The Vine church, Springwood, Logan City, Queensland Australia. Full messages can be accessed by podcast from www.thevine.org.au/teaching.