Forgiven, Forgiving, & Free

By F. D. Adkins

To say there was tension between them was an understatement. Fueled by jealousy, his brothers hated him. They detested that colorful jacket that he sported around in. They abhorred the fact that their father loved him the most. And when he told his brothers about those dreams, the animosity they harbored toward him built and built until the hostility overtook them. They wanted him dead, and they were going to do it. They were going to kill him. Thankfully, his oldest brother, Reuben, convinced them to throw him into that pit instead.

Reuben’s plan to come back and rescue him failed, but at least he was not dead. Yes, he knew he should be angry with them. But, how could he? How could he be angry when he could clearly see the good that came from it all. It is true they tossed him in that hole to thirst and starve to death. It is true that while he was trapped in that cistern without even a drop of water, his brothers sat and enjoyed lunch. It is true that they sold him as a slave. It is true that if it had not been for Reuben they might have and probably would have killed him. Yet, as they stood before him today, he could not hold back the tears. He could not hold a grudge against his brothers for He knew God had put him here in this position to save their lives. He could not even stand the thought of them being angry with themselves, so he released them of their guilt by telling them that it was God that had sent him here as a slave, not them. As he embraced his little brother and kissed his older brothers, he was filled with such joy to have his family back.

***

I continually fall short of the glory of God. I often wake up in the morning reflecting on something that I should have done differently. But, because Jesus hung on that cross, I can go talk to my Father and ask His forgiveness.  And…He forgives me. How incredible is that! We have a loving Father that gives do-overs! Jesus suffered for us all, and to all that believe in Him and accept Him, He grants second chances. Praise the Lord for second chances because, try as I may, the old saying that hindsight is twenty-twenty is so true, and I am going to mess up.

Colossians 1: 13-14 says, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” KJV

Since He extends forgiveness to us, God commands us to forgive others.

Colossians 3:13 says, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” KJV

The concept of forgiving others may sound simple, but bitterness and resentment can be a tough army to conquer when human emotions are involved. So, how do we battle these emotions? We put on our armor and let God lead. Starting with the belt of Truth, we learn from the scripture, and Jesus is the ultimate example in learning about forgiveness.

We have heard the story over and over, but let’s take a moment and allow ourselves to picture the scene. A man stands before a crowd. This man has done no wrong. This man is the only perfect person that has ever walked the earth. Yet, without good reason, the crowd is yelling, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” They want this man to die so badly that the crowd prefers to have a murderer walking freely among them. So, they ask for Barabbas to be released and this blameless man to be condemned to an agonizing death. He is scourged.  As the cords of the whip embedded with chards of glass and bone, strike his body, his flesh rips open. They hit Him with their hands. They spit on Him. They mock Him. They place a crown of thorns on His head. They drive spikes through His wrists and His feet nailing his body to a cross. And after all of this torture, as this innocent man hangs from this cross, He prays, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Imagine saying those words after being beaten and nailed to a cross. He endured this torturous death for our sin, not His. He had no sin.

As Christians, we should strive to be more like Jesus. No one has ever been wronged more than Jesus, yet He forgave.

Of course, Jesus is perfect, and we are not. So, God gives us the story of an ordinary man that extended extraordinary forgiveness.

I am sure you figured out that my opening story is about Joseph. His brothers had placed him in a pit intending to let him starve to death. That is until they had an opportunity to get rid of their brother and make some money at the same time. But, ironically, the story comes full circle because, in the end, Joseph is now in a position that he can let his brothers starve. He could easily use his power to seek revenge, but instead, he chooses to forgive. Joseph not only gives his brothers food, but he comforts them. He releases them of all guilt and responsibility for their actions against him.

Joseph could have relished in this moment that his brothers stood before him needing help. He could have let them suffer for the suffering they caused him. But instead, Joseph looked for the good that came from the path his life had taken. He could have turned his brothers away and had nothing to do with them, but instead, Joseph chose to embrace the time he had left with his brothers. The Bible details several times that Joseph wept. I wonder about the emotions that sparked those tears. Was he thinking back about how much his brothers must have hated him? Were these tears of mourning as he thought of all the years that he had lost with them? Were these tears of joy as he envisioned a second chance with his family? Joseph saw an opportunity for a do-over, and he chose to not let the past steal the future.

What happens when I do not forgive?

• When I choose not to forgive, I am the one that feels torment.  In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus told the parable of the servant that owed money to the king. He begged the king to have patience with him until he could pay, and the king had compassion and erased the servant’s debt. Then the servant that had his debt forgiven went to a fellow servant that owed him money. When the fellow servant begged him for patience, he took him by the throat and had him thrown in prison. When the king found out what his servant had done to his fellow servant after he had forgiven his debt, the king reinstated his debt and turned him over to the tormentors until he could pay. So, when I do not forgive, those tormentors of bitterness and anger will tear me apart inside and steal the precious gift of time that God has given me.
• When I choose not to forgive, my prayer life suffers. Mark 11:25 says, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if you have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” KJV

So…why should I forgive someone who has hurt me? After all, wasn’t I the one who was hurt?

• I should forgive because I want to embrace each new day without the torment of anger boiling inside me.
• I should forgive because I want God to hear my prayers and forgive me.
• I should forgive because God tells me to.

If Jesus loves me so much that He suffered and died so that my sins could be forgiven, shouldn’t I gladly follow His command and extend forgiveness?