A Day of Forgiveness

Today, is a day of forgiveness. Jesus Christ died on a cross. Just for me. He loves me that much! I can't imagine how it felt - to bear the sin of the world on His shoulders. And we think we have burdens! The free gift of grace is the best thing available on this earth (see "The Free Gift of Grace"). I make mistakes (believe me!). Even today alone, I came home feeling like a failure! But God is forgiving. The blood of Jesus covers all of my sins. It washes them as white as snow. I am so thankful for that! The least I can do in response is obey God's commandment and forgive others like He forgave me.

Matthew 18:35 (NIV)

"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Mark 11:25 (NIV)

"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

For the past four months I have been in the process of forgiving someone who hurt me deeply. It's the first time I've actually had to forgive like this, so I'm new to this process. I wrote about it two weeks ago (see "He heals the brokenhearted"). I've also been praying about it - for God to give me courage, humility, and love. What better day to forgive than Good Friday? So... today, from the bottom of my heart, only through the power of God, I forgive. You have no idea how good it feels to finally let go! It was a burden. Yes, I was trusting God in other areas of my life, but I never realized I was still in bondage. Now, I can walk in freedom!!!

Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was beaten, nailed to a cross, and murdered. The ONLY perfect man to ever come into this world - and we kill Him. I've learned that the world isn't fair, but this is just preposterous! We are all guilty when it comes down to the bottom line. We all fall short (Romans 3:23). Not one is righteous, and that's why all of us need a Savior. How blessed are we that God cares and loves us sooooooo much that He sent Jesus??!!

It's not easy - to forgive. It's the narrow road less traveled, that involves humility (giving up your right of being right), courage, and love (God is love!). I can't even attempt to comprehend what it would be like to forgive without God. If you don't know God, then you don't know love. If you don't know God, then you've never seen forgiveness. If you don't know God, you're still in bondage of sin. I feel sorry for you! Life is hard. And forgiveness is the harder route, but it also results in freedom, which makes it worth everything in the end. It doesn't benefit the person who harmed you. It helps YOU. God doesn't mention it over 100 times in the Bible for no reason - it's important! I genuinely have freedom because I chose the path of forgiveness. What will you choose?

Happy Good Friday everyone! Remember the cross.

1 John 4:10-11 (NIV)

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

-Cross picture taken by Bubbly (it's my brand new cross necklace!)

John 19:19 (NIV)

"Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS."