FORGIVENESS – OUR EFFECTIVE WEAOPEN!

By Bro. Tom Johns, Dallas, USA

We often proudly and rightfully declare that we are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood,” as we dearly cling to the passage from 1 Peter 2:9. The fact that every Christian belonging to the ‘royal priesthood’ also comes with some inalienable demands upon our lives.

The priests are to be involved in priestly duties. The New Testament priests are to offer themselves as a ‘living sacrifice’ to God [Rom 12:1] We have heard of the stories of several missionaries who went to various hostile parts of the world and suffered greatly, and some got killed down through the centuries.

More recently, Graham Staines, the Australian Missionary, along with his two sons, Philip, and Timothy, were burnt to death in India by opposing religious fanatics in 1999. The most recent news from Manipur, India is truly heart-wrenching and troubling to us as it strikes close to our hearts.

FORGIVENESS – OUR WEAPON

Shouldn’t Christians be outraged at the atrocities committed against the children of God? In our natural mind, we ought to feel outraged, but the scriptural standards are quite different.

The scripture requires us to use forgiveness as one of the choicest weapons of defence against the prevailing vices and trust in the mighty power of God. We are called to march to the beat of a ‘different drum.’ Yet, we fall easily to the fleshly urge to get even with those who mistreat us, whether from within the family of God or from outside. 

 JESUS CHRIST - OUR EXAMPLE.

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth, and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” [1 Peter 2:21-23] 

Apostle Peter reminds us that we are ‘called’ by God with a purpose – a purpose to represent Jesus Christ while in His bodily absence on this earth. We are to follow His steps. We are to pattern after Him. How did He conduct on this earth? Although sinless and perfect, He was reviled, suffered unjustly, He was threatened, and ultimately put to death most inhumanly.

Yet, Jesus did not revile back, suffered injustice patiently, and endured cruelty and mockery while holding back His power to annihilate them in the wink of an eye. We are challenged to pattern after Him; it requires patient endurance, not manifestations of unforgiving outbursts of retaliation. 

 NOT RETURNING EVIL FOR EVIL

 “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

Again, Peter is exhorting us to behave differently to the standards of this world. Will our lives be characterized by being harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, humble, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult and more importantly giving a blessing instead?

We often ignore these instructions and move along as if these are given for ‘godlier’ saints and not for ordinary Christians like us. More than any other time, we need to heed Hebrews 12:19 & 21.

“Never take revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink … Do not overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

God commands us to march to the beat of this drum! This may sound very strange to the world and its standards. 

 WHO ARE YOU TO JUDGE THE SERVANT OF ANOTHER? 

  “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master, he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” Romans 14:10

 Our unforgiving nature manifests greatly when we pronounce judgment upon others, especially our fellow believers and their families. Our responsibility is to glorify God by obeying His commands. He commands that we do not return evil for evil, and we do not judge God’s children unnecessarily, and show patience by trusting the Lord to judge.

How Christ evaluates each believer is what matters, and his judgment does not consider religious traditions or personal preferences. So, no matter how sincere we could be in our judgment, we could be miserably wrong, and they might be flawed.  How sad it would be to judge a child of God wrongly!

We are judging a brother or a sister in Christ, whose offences are already been forgiven by God through Jesus Christ. According to 2 Cor 5:21, the one who is being judged here has already possessed the ‘righteousness of God,’ in Christ Jesus. 

 FIND DELIGHT IN FORGIVING! 

 “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Eph 4:32.

The greatest hindrance to extending unconditional forgiveness to others is that we fear that they may get away with greater offences. But the scriptures demand us to think differently. God patiently endured the greatest offence I can ever commit against any individual.

I caused the death of God’s Son Jesus Christ because I have sinned and committed the most gruesome offences against Him. Jesus died for me while I was yet a sinner. But I often demand others to come to beg for my pardon and even then, I am unwilling to extend it.

 If God found delight in forgiving me unconditionally, how can I resist His demand to be kind to others, being tender-hearted and forgiving?

 Do we wake up every morning with the prayer that God would bring someone to our path so that we can show forgiveness and mercy, no matter how underserving that person is? If we delight in forgiving just as God delights in forgiving seventy times seven a day [Matt 18:22], how much of a blessing that would be for our lives! 

 SOVEREIGN GOD IS IN CONTROL. 

 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring about his present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So, he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Gen 50:20-21

Can we trust God to execute justice? Can we trust His sovereign ways? The Genesis 50 passage stands as the ultimate vindication to God’s children. Hardly any of us had been so mistreated as Joseph had been by his brothers.

Joseph trusted in his God to vindicate him and execute righteous judgment upon the ones who hurt him so badly. Joseph’s godly attitude allowed him to forgive them, although he recognized the level of offence they committed.

Forgiving is not forgetting about what had happened, but offering forgiveness is merely an extension of a godly attitude in us to other fellow beings. It is not a virtue that we offer forgiveness to others who are undeserving, but it is a demand on our lives. 

Related topic:  'O Come, All Ye Failures'   FAILURE AND DISAPPOINTMENT   

26/07/2023