Joy is the spiritual fruit I have chosen to pursue in 2017.
There are many references to joy (272) in Scripture and there are many (150)
for forgiveness. In the Old Testament
forgiveness is an act of sacrifice offered to God, often through a priest for
atonement or forgiveness. Throughout Scripture it requires a blood sacrifice of
a bull or dove or lamb. A faultless animal was required. But there just is not
such a thing; we are all marred or imperfect in some way. It is paying a debt for our transgressions
against God and man. But we can’t pay it.
Then comes the Son of God, the Perfect One, who did pay the
debt, ransomed for our sins. His life was given for our lives. He died for our
transgressions that we might be forgiven by God. We were given what we do not
deserve. Psalm 32 tells us, “Blessed is he whose sins are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.” God bought, saved us from ourselves.
There are parables of the wicked or unforgiving servant’s
debt. The Master forgave him, but he would not forgive and so he was thrown in prison
for life. Should he or we have mercy on those who forgive us? Psalm 130 tells
us that with you (God) we are forgiven. We need to humble ourselves and receive
this unmerited gift of forgiveness. “If my people, who are called by
my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and
will heal their land” (2
Chronicles 7:14). This is the key to forgiveness, which is humility and
repentance. The first time I heard this read at a Sacred Assembly called by
Promise Keepers in Washington, D.C. in 1997. This prayer meeting of nearly 1.3
million men on the national mall was for our country and our sin, repenting of
our wrongs and asking for forgiveness. Our country continues to move further
from our founding documents ever since and so have most hearts.
I have
gone to brothers or sisters and found forgiveness, reconciliation and joy, even
though it has sometimes taken years and been one way.
As I
write this essay, I am at odds with my own brother in a very hurtful way. I
have gone to prayer and counseling and sought the Lord’s forgiveness as I have
repented of my own hardening heart. Jesus in the gospels said, “forgive
as I have forgiven you, if you do not I will not forgive you.” I have
forgiven and asked forgiveness of my brother face-to-face, yet continued very
hurtful encounters have caused me to no longer move toward him. There are times
that it is just not fruitful or safe to go to someone directly. The concept of
reconciliation is not universally understood. As a chaplain I have tried to
bring reconciliation within families at the bedside of dying family members. I
have come to see that perhaps many years of friction and dysfunction are not
things I can overcome. Sometimes it is better to leave them to God to resolve
if folks are willing.
The sad
commentary is that we all live in less than God honoring relationships of some
kind. We need to repent and ask forgiveness and do what God commands. I have
done so often and now comes a time of waiting and praying for reconciliation in
my life. The Apostle Paul brought helpful wisdom by saying, “If
it is at all possible, as much as it depends upon you, be at peace with
everyone” (Romans 12:18). Sometimes it is not our call, it is just
beyond us. I am not always joyful in this even though James said, “Consider
it pure joy when you come into trials of diverse kinds, for the testing of you
faith develops perseverance, and perseverance must finish its work so you may
mature and complete lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 paraphrase). He
continues on to tell us that if we don’t know what to do, to ask God, and He
will generously give us direction. I am asking without doubting and rejoicing
that He is in it with me.
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts.