REAL TALK from KB: Forgiveness
Do you owe anyone an apology? What did/do you do the right
the wrong? Do you need to forgive or be forgiven? Do you even bother to examine these questions
in your life?
Man oh man! I cannot tell you how many memes, photos and
quotes that I have seen on forgiveness. Many of the quotes talk about forgiving
yourself. I just saw a quote that threw my mind into thought about what it
really means to forgive yourself; I have to say that our egos and our pride
have made the process way too easy. I say this because we overlook the steps it
takes to insure "forgiveness". We tend to blame the other party or to
not even acknowledge that something was said or done to create the need for
forgiveness.
Matthew 5: 22-24 …22"But I say to you that
everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and
whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the
supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into
the fiery hell.23"Therefore
if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there
before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and
present your offering
James 5: 15 -16 15 and the prayer offered in faith
will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has
committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to
one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective
prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary states : Matthew 5:21-26 The Jewish teachers
had taught, that nothing except actual murder was forbidden by the sixth
commandment. Thus they explained away its spiritual meaning. Christ showed the
full meaning of this commandment; according to which we must be judged
hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder.
By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much
below us, for we are all made of one blood. Raca, is a scornful word, and comes
from pride: Thou fool, is a spiteful word, and comes from hatred. Malicious
slanders and censures are poison that kills secretly and slowly. Christ told them
that how light soever they made of these sins, they would certainly be called
into judgment for them. We ought carefully to preserve Christian love and peace
with all our brethren; and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess
our fault, humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for
wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because, till this
is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we
are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an
occasion of serious reflection and self-examination. What is here said is very
applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive,
we are in the way to his judgment-seat; after death, it will be too late. When
we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, how
needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!
Bottom line...we all sin, we all fall short, we all get
angry, we all say things.... it's about what we do and say once we realize that
we have fallen out of step. Do we blame others? Do we just offer up a cursory
prayer and continue on our merry way not even acknowledging that we have caused
harm? I can tell you that I don't ever
want to live a life divorced from my conscience; apologies are mandatory in my
life and my walk. I don't EVER want someone to live with hurt, harm or
emotional baggage caused by me; I have and will continue to live my life
operating under this premise.
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