While I was walking around in the vendor section, I was stopped by this gal named Joann. Joann had this tape series that she had created and was selling it at her booth. Her focus was about forgiveness but the way she was doing it seemed weird to me.
I asked her how she ended up creating this series and she said she had an experience where she had to forgive someone and felt like God was telling her to write about forgiveness. She told God that she would do it, but she would also need to make money from it as well. So, she created this tape series to help people pray the prayers of forgiveness. How it worked was they listen to her state these prayers and people have experienced a work done in their lives about forgiveness. She then asked me if I wanted to buy her tape series. I said no, and she told me to have a good day.
The Truth of the Matter:
It seems like an innocent encounter but it seemed weird that that a person would have to listen to her tapes in order to be able to forgive others.
Let’s look at forgiveness in general. Ephesians 1:7 states,” In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Meaning Christ shed his blood for our sins so that we could be forgiven for our wrong doings. So through him, we can come and ask for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Now, when it comes to forgiving others, it can be difficult, especially when the hurt is so deep. It can feel impossible to forgive. Luke 23:34 states. “Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.“ Jesus went to the cross, his hands and feet were nailed into the wood, and yet the soldiers were dividing his clothes up by casting lots. Yet, he still forgave them.
Ephesians 4:32 states, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Meaning that when someone wrongs us, we need to forgive them. Sometimes people can aggravate us, and there are days we do not want to forgive them. Matthew 18:21-22 states, “Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Meaning we need to keep forgiving them even when they don’t deserve it. Matthew 6:14-15 states, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Colossians 3:13 states, “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
We don’t need a tape or have to listen to a lady’s voice in order to forgive others. We can do it automatically, just as Jesus did while he was on the cross. Sometimes it can be extremely difficult to forgive, especially when someone has deeply wronged the other person. Through God, all things are possible, and forgiving the unforgivable is a possibility.