Some personal thoughts on forgiveness…
It’s the toughest thing for humans to put into practice.
What if a person had only asked God for forgiveness at the point of their death? Do you think they will be repenting of their sins after death, one by one, as the feathers are plucked out of their tar?
And what if God asked us – right here, right now – to count up all the feathers in our own tar? Do you think it would take us an eternity?
Chosen by Christ
When You said that you chose me, I knew that it was true. For only You could have met me here – in this place. This place where You look upon me and see me as I am, warts and all. Yet still You write my name in the palm of Your hand, still You choose me.
And You smile at me in this place, here and now, where I am so overwhelmed by Your mercy that all I can do is kneel before Your throne of grace, until my face touches the ground.
I pray and I wait in the sacred silence of Your unconditional embrace, that invites me to remain in Your love. I know that when it is time You will prepare the way for me. The way You planned for me before I was born.
(adapted from a published prayer by JMF 2012)
God, who shows you his kindness and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while (1 Peter 5 v 10.)
(© 1995 God’s Word to the Nations)
And finally…
Imagine God holding a set of scales. One side is full of unconditional love and the other, unconditional forgiveness. Both weigh the same and are balanced as separate things. Bringing them together as a whole is what God means about forgiveness. It is not just used as a measure for His forgiveness and unconditional love for us; it is also about us forgiving others, others forgiving us and us forgiving ourselves too.
It’s the toughest thing for humans to put into practice.
All text © Julie M. Fairweather 2012 – unless otherwise stated