True Forgiveness

 

2 Chronicles 30:18b-19 (NIV) - “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.”

In 2 Chronicles, King Hezekiah celebrated the Passover.

He sent messengers throughout the kingdom asking the people to return to the Lord.

Many mocked the messengers.

Yet some of the faithful traveled to Jerusalem with their sacrifices.

Many were ceremonially unclean, so the Levites consecrated their offerings.

And so, Hezekiah prayed to the Lord to pardon everyone, even those who were ceremonially unclean.

In Mark 2, Jesus showed forgiveness.

He forgave and then healed a paralyzed man.

He dined with sinners.

The Pharisees criticized Jesus for doing so.

Jesus explained His actions regarding sinners.

Mark 2:17 (NIV) - On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I honestly believe that forgiveness is something people struggle with.

This can be true even of Christians.

And when taken to task on this, we find it too easy to justify our unwillingness to forgive.

And just as sad, we sometimes have trouble forgiving ourselves.

This is a tremendous and unnecessary burden which we impose on ourselves.

But the truth of the matter is that we are completely and forever forgiven.

This is not our doing.

True forgiveness is made possible through Jesus.

And He extends that forgiveness to all.

He even extends it to those we find difficult to forgive.

Even when we find it hard to forgive ourselves, Christ offers complete and eternal forgiveness.

Through Christ, we are forgiven.

Through Christ, we are made new.

Through Christ, hearts of stone are made flesh once more.

Through Christ, relationships are mended.

When we truly seek forgiveness, Christ is there, ready to forgive.

And when that happens, we are free to love and forgive others.

We can even forgive ourselves and forever lose the guilt which burdens us.

Blessings,

Jim Pokorny

The Other Brother Jim

Look for me at https://faithfulfeetteam.blogspot.com/ on Friday, May 19, 2023.

I will be back here on Friday, May 26, 2023