Forgiven….Really!

Today I was experiencing some of the ramifications of my lack of water intake. It seems that I can become dehydrated so easily which makes me vulnerable to infections. I was experiencing some persistent fatigue and while other vital signs were normal, my resting pulse was 100 to 110. I went to a weekend clinic this afternoon and my pulse was better, but my temperature was up. After a returning home and getting in a good nap I felt better and we were able to make our regular Saturday night service.

It was good to have my friend and fellow State Representative Spencer Swalm up for a visit. We enjoyed lunch together and had the opportunity to get caught up and for Spencer to see my progress. Last time he was up to see me, we needed to use our handicap van to get around and this time I drove my car to the restaurant for lunch.

After church this evening we had our friend Charlie Simineo and Sue and Sam (my brother and sister in law) over for dinner. We enjoyed a nice meal on our patio. However, it did delay me finishing my daily post. I told them that my disclaimer was going to be, “any mistakes or typos are due to the distraction of the conversation while I worked on my blog.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”                 Genesis 50:19,20

As the story of Joesph ends we find his brothers concerned about Joesph holding a grudge and getting revenge for the way they treated him. Joseph had already told his brothers that God was using what had happened for His purposes and that he did not harbor any resentment. Even with that, there was still a nagging concern about whether Joesph really had forgiven his brothers.

There are two aspects of this account that are important about forgiveness.

1 – Joesph accepted God’s perspective and refused to take God’s place

We see that Joesph’s initial response to hearing of his brothers concern of retaliation was to weep. The news caused him sorrow. The scene was a fulfillment of Joesph’s dream as a teen. It would have been easy for him to gloat and remind his brothers of his dream as they bowed before him. But instead he responded in sorrow over their concern.

“Am I in the place of God?” he asked them. Joesph realized that to take revenge was placing himself as  God over his brothers. A friend of mine helped me with this concept by using the judicial process as an analogy. He said that forgiveness is like a lower court judge turning over a ruling to a higher court. That means the lower court judge allows the “higher” court to make a decision as to what happens and when. So forgiveness is releasing my right to judge another for their actions.

2 – Accepting forgiveness is freeing, but can be challenging

Sometimes it is difficult to forgive and it can be difficult to accept forgiveness and for someone to forgive themselves. It seems like Joesph found it easier to forgive his brothers than for his brothers to accept that forgiveness or to forgive themselves for their past treatment of their brother.

In Matthew 18:21-35 we find the story of the “unforgiving servant.” A servant who owed his master an unpayable debt is forgiven of his $2,000,000 debt that he owed. As soon as the servant leaves his master he finds a fellow servant who owes him $20 and demands that he be paid back and now! One author points out that the issue at the root was that the “unforgiving servant” did not understand that he had been forgiven the great debt he owed. Those who understand the forgiveness they have received from God find it easier to forgive others.

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Some times people have a hard time understanding that this can really happen. As a result they keep “looking over their shoulder” not fully trusting the Lord and possessing the confidence and joy that comes through the freedom of receiving forgiveness. They believe they still need to “do” something to earn the right to be forgiven.

It is God’s desire for us to know the joy of being forgiven, both from God and from others. When you forgive and when you receive forgiveness, walk in that freedom, and live in peace.