Theme of the Week: Forgiveness is Freedom
Bible Verse: And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12
Scripture Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
I took up jogging at about thirty years old. I started slow. I was out of shape and hadn’t ever really run before (the last time being at a sports’ day in grade seven). But I really wanted to do it, so I set a goal for myself to run one thousand kilometers that year.
At first, I could barely even run one kilometer and I wondered how in the world I was going to accomplish my goal. Every week, I pushed myself to get out there and run a bit farther. Four or five times a week, I laced up my shoes and hit the road.
Soon, one kilometer was easy. Then anything less than five kilometers seemed like a waste of time. My most common run was eight kilometers and my longest was sixteen. I kept chipping away at my goal of one thousand kilometers.
One fall day, I called up a bunch of my running friends and asked if they wanted to come for a five kilometer run with me. I promised them food and drink after. About a dozen showed up and off we went. On that day, I added to my nine-hundred and ninety-five kilometer total. By the end of that run, I had reached my one thousand kilometer total. It felt great.
I think forgiveness is like this. Someone offends me or hurts me and now I am compelled by Christ’s love to forgive them. So, I make it my goal to do that.
Now, just like my running goal was not reached on the first day, often my forgiveness goal is not reached in the first moments either. But I have committed to forgive, and every day I make the decision to forgive that person. It may take a while (depending on the magnitude of the offence) to experience full forgiveness, but I’m on the way. By God’s grace, that day will come. Maybe I’ll even celebrate.
Forgiveness is a choice and it’s a choice that can be made new every morning.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant me the strength and endurance to pursue my commitment to forgive. Help me to forgive as much as I can today. I also pray for a miracle—that You might supernaturally fill me with the ability to forgive. And whether that complete feeling of forgiveness comes in a day or in a year, I will make the choice to forgive today. By your grace and for Your glory. Amen.
Reflection: Who do you need to forgive today? Will you make the choice to do that, despite where your feelings are?
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