Forgiveness – Part 2
(The following is the second part of a five-part series. I want to preface this article by saying it is a compilation of thoughts that began in February or March of this year. What started as a 3-word phrase “jumping off the page” one morning in my personal devotions has continued to develop over the past seven or eight months via further Scripture reading, Bible commentaries, King James Bible preaching, and devotional books, as well as personal experiences. This is certainly not an exhaustive study on the subject of forgiveness but rather a glimpse into what the Lord has been teaching me this year.)
Personal Experiences
Since April, the Lord has continued to drive this truth home in a variety of ways. One of those ways has been through personal experiences. I’ll share a few of those now.
The first incident involves one of the younger GRANDS and the aunties. To make a long story short, the GRAND had a little “mean-streak” moment toward one auntie. The other auntie was not going to let this GRAND get away with the tantrum. She quickly confronted the offender and insisted on an apology.
“Tell Aunt _____ you’re sorry.”
***silence***
“Tell Aunt _____ you’re sorry.”
***teary eyes and silence***
“Say – ‘I’m sorry’….”
***more tears and silence***
“______, are you sorry?”
“Yesssssss”…..followed by an abundance of tears, falling into auntie’s arms and a big ol’ bear hug from Aunt _____.
This little GRAND had to be helped a little with the words but in the end, repentance took place, and fellowship was restored.
The next incident involves another little one – not a GRAND but still a little tyke. Long story short, the little one was misbehaving and the mother had to reprimand and have the child SIT. At that point, fellowship was broken and it was obvious that this little one did not like the separation caused by the misbehavior. Within seconds, we heard:
“Mommy, I’m sorry”…accompanied by big ol’ teary eyes.
That’s all it took – Mommy and child were hugging and fellowship was restored.
The third incident involves an older GRAND offending both aunties. This time, Nana had to step in. After getting the story straight, I sat down alone with this GRAND and explained the offense as well as the hurt that it had caused. Once I made sure there was a complete understanding of the wrong that had been done, I told the GRAND that an apology should take place…but I left it at that. The offender had been informed of the offense and the ball was now in the child’s court to make things right.
The GRAND wiped teary eyes, took a deep breath, got up, and slowly walked toward the hallway. (Ahhhh….can I confess right here? Call me soft, but knowing this GRAND and the very obvious struggle taking place within was hard to watch. This Nana struggled to refrain herself from going after the GRAND, giving a big hug and saying, “It’s ok honey – we’ll just forget it happened”.)
Not long after, the girls came to me individually. I asked them if ________ had apologized and they assured me the GRAND had. I don’t know if I’ve ever been a prouder Nana than at that moment. NOW, the AUNTIES were wiping tears from THEIR eyes! Heartfelt repentance had taken place and sweet fellowship was restored!
I realize that all three of the above examples involve children who were guilty of a transgression. I don’t think there would be anyone reading this who would disagree with the statement that children need to be taught to say “I’m sorry” when they have sinned against another individual. But, if repentance should be taught to children, how much more should it be expected in adults? This past Sunday morning, our pastor gave a reproof to our young people in a certain area but then, he went on to remind the adults to lead by example. I say “amen” to that – how very important that we, as adults, not be a stumbling block but rather a stepping stone in all areas of our Christian lives.
As Christians, when we sin our fellowship with God is broken. Before fellowship can be restored, God requires that repentance take place.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
If our sin was against our fellowman, our fellowship with the individual(s) is broken. Before fellowship can be restored, God requires that repentance take place toward the individual(s) as well. This is very clear in Luke 17:3,4
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
Sadly, although the majority of adults would readily agree that this must be taught in children, it seems to be a “forgotten” practice in our adult world. Is it really forgotten, or is it just ignored? When we have been guilty of an offense toward others, we must decide what is more valuable to us – our pride or the individual(s) we have offended. To choose pride by refusing to repent is to say, “I care more about myself than I do about mending this broken relationship.”
God wants forgiveness to take place among Christians. Ephesians 4:32 exhorts:
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
How can we expect to win a lost and dying world to Christ if, as Christians, our own lives are full of broken relationships due to not forgiving one another? Why would a broken society want what we have? Yes, we are commanded to forgive others…”as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. How has God forgiven us? His forgiveness toward us hinges upon our repentance to Him. God requires repentance.