Psalm 130:4
“But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.”
Not far from New York City is a cemetery with a grave with just one word on the headstone: FORGIVEN. There is nothing else – no name, no date of birth, no mention of praise for the departed – just, forgiven. And yet, what greater word could be written above our last resting place?
But if I were to add one other, it would be the word forgive. Forgiven and forgive belong together, just as Jesus placed them together when He taught us how to pray, “…and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12) NLT
Sinning, either in thought or deed, is the sad result of our fallen nature. And when you have been on the receiving end, you know how bad it can hurt. But let me ask you,
Has anyone wronged you as much
as you have wronged God?
The forgiveness we extend to another is to be as free and complete as that of God. And when we do, we are the beneficiaries; to forgive releases you and me. It opens wide the prison door of anger and bitterness, allowing us to move forward in complete freedom. It liberates us to love as Jesus loves and models His character to the world.
Christ forgives – past, present, and future – and in love and gratitude to Him, we must go and do likewise.
Awaiting His return,
– Pastor Jack
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