A Lenten Reflection
The Sweetness of Forgiveness and Grace
"The prodigal son was resolved to come, yet he was half afraid. But we read that his father ran. Slow are the steps of repentance but swift are the feet of forgiveness. God can run where we can scarcely limp. And if we are limping toward him, he will run toward us. Though the father was out of breath, he was not out of love."
- Charles Spurgeon
- Charles Spurgeon
Forgiveness is sweetest to those who know that they erred, and humbly receive the balm of mercy with a glad and grateful heart.
Often, wounds run deep in our lives, and we are stingy with forgiveness...even if we believe the offender to be sincere. We hold our grudges- indeed we nurture them and let them grow vastly out of proportion much of the time!--, we keep up our reserve...telling ourselves that "they don't deserve forgiveness!" or..."they'll have to earn it!"
How thankful we should be that God is not so petty as we!
For as much as someone has sinned against you, wronged you, hurt you.....you have sinned in far greater amount towards God. We all have. We have not kept His Word inscribed upon our hearts as we should, we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves, we have not loved God as we ought. We have committed sin upon sin, trusting in the loving nature of God to forgive us.
Yet....we so often choose not to forgive. We are the elder brother in the story of the Prodigal Son; resenting the lavishness God shows to others and bearing our ill will as a torch before us. We have forgotten that we have been, and might yet be again, prodigals ourselves.
As surely as we need forgiveness, we need to learn how to forgive.
"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." Matthew 6:14-15
I remember being a child and reading that verse for the first time, and thinking how unfair it was of God to ask, nay, command that of us. "What God, do you expect us to be like You?'
Yes! He wants us to strive to be like Him as best we can. And as He shows us love, grace, mercy and forgiveness...He wants us to show that to others.
Perhaps the only way to get in the right mind frame to do this is to remember all the times God has shown us compassion.
Our back was turned to Him, yet He called and waited.
We went our own ways, to do our own thing, and He was faithful.
We indulged ourselves in sins we knew we should not....and when finally we awoke to the misery we had mired ourselves in....when finally we decided we wanted to return home to God....when finally we took that hesitant step home- ragged and limping in the soul-....what did we see?
God with His arms outstretched and His love overflowing. The Father who runs to us, claims us and says, "Welcome home, child." No words of condemnation...He forgives readily and freely if only we will come to Him and turn from our deliberate sinful ways...ways that had destroyed us.
Our sins sullied us, and the Father washes us.
Our sins broke us, and the Father heals us.
Our sins were killing us, yet the Father gives us life anew.
When we see ourselves as that prodigal returning home to the heartfelt clasp of the Father's arms, when we remember what that forgiveness felt like pouring over us...it is so much easier to give grace and forgiveness to others.
How often I have failed, stumbled, taken wrong turns and ended up in discouragement and disillusion! How often have I disappointed those I love, and needed the grace of forgiveness. Worst of all, how often have I sinned against my God, who for love of me, went to the Cross?! When I contemplate such sorrowful things, I am reminded of the vast love and mercy I have been shown, and am able to hold out my hand in forgiveness to others.
For as we have been forgiven, we should forgive.
For as we have been shown compassion, let us show compassion.
For as we have been lavished with the love of God, let us give that love to others.
And if you are wandering far away from the Father, too ashamed to come home...listen, my friend...the door is open, and He awaits. In Him is all love, all mercy, all forgiveness, greater than we can comprehend. He waits for you, with open arms, eager to welcome you. Turn to Him, throw your hand in repentance, love and hope to Him, He will catch you, He will hold you. Turn towards home, there is a welcome waiting.....
On towards the Cross,
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