I thought I had forgiveness aced. No grudges, no bitterness taking root, no resentment, no harsh judgement festering in me. Those transgressions we encounter as we interact with a great spectrum of brothers and sisters in Christ never entrapped me, hardening my heart against them. Fully aware we all are working through the baggage we carry into the kingdom that must be unpacked before the discerning eye of the Holy Spirit, I was quick to forgive. Until the Holy Spirit exposed, I was not.
Betrayed by someone I thought was my friend, I found myself struggling. Accusations were like knives thrust into my heart, wounding deeply.
But this morning the Holy Spirit clearly pointed out my hypocrisy as I read 1 John 5:1. “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.” There are no escape routes, no statements giving permission to “love those born of God unless we are wounded.” Therefore, I repent, and ask God’s forgiveness and His help in the way of forgiveness. I know I will need His grace in this weakness. I am finding it difficult to forgive.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9a
Although 1 John 5:1 was isolated in a manuscript, I looked it up in my Bible. In verse three, I learned the love of God is to keep His commandments which are not burdensome. In verse two, the author, who is the apostle John, explains “we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His commandments.”
Thus, we know obedience to the commandments in God’s Word will ensure our love of brothers and sisters in Christ. What does God command in the way of forgiveness?
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” Colossians 3:12-13
It is best to uncover sin swiftly. Recently I pulled a prayer journal I assembled more than 20 years ago from my bookshelf. I haven’t used it in a while. There are five sections: praise, admit, requests, listening, and thanks. Under “admit” I am reminded to read Psalm 139:23-24 so the Holy Spirit can bring to mind things that cause unforgiveness, catching them when the seeds have just been planted so they can be removed before they germinate.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” [Ps 139:23-24]
I was thinking I was doing well with the art of forgiveness until I was convicted by the Holy Spirit. It’s wise to have our head examined, or should I say heart? Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to expose any error in our thought process!
©2023 Susan Cort Johnson *All Rights Reserved
Photo from Pixabay
Let’s Talk:
1-If the Holy Spirit has brought any grievous way to mind lately, please share how He has led you in the way everlasting following the exposure.
2-If you have ever struggled with forgiveness, how did you overcome the struggle?