I recently returned from a youth conference in Dallas, Texas. The pastor asked about 3,000 students, me included, if someone who had committed murder deserved forgiveness. Many individuals were interviewed and asked the same question, and of course, most said no.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
That same night we were asked this question, the shooting broke out in downtown Dallas, just two miles from our hotel where our conference was being held. Across the freeway, outside our hotel room windows, we could see the very same building that was being shown on all the news channels. Quickly, the number of officer fatalities was rising. I asked myself over and over again, "Does someone who commits murder deserve forgiveness?" As I watched the television and witnessed an officer being shot on live footage, my heart broke for his family, for all the other law enforcement, the witnesses, the shooter and our country as a whole. My flesh did not want to forgive him. The Lord said forgive, I said no.
The Lord has commanded us to forgive each other. Often we use the excuse, when in context of a situation,"Well, they hate Christians." Fair enough, but the Bible also says, "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you." Luke 6:27. How do we, as Christians, expect to be a light for Christ to the unbelievers whenever we don't even fully follow and respect God's law? I'm going to step on toes, even my own, and say that if you don't want to be called a hypocritical Christian, don't be one.
"Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins." Ecclesiastes 7:20
God doesn't expect us to not sin, in fact, it is impossible, hence, forgiveness and mercy. We are not righteous. We sin daily and that's that, but we should never follow sin due to fleshly desires.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23
Our God is a just God and delivers forgiveness to those who believe in him and ask for his forgiveness. But we don't, we never have, and we never will deserve the Lord's forgiveness.
We get into arguments, and sometimes full-blown fights, with friends, co-workers, family members, and even other church members. We hold grudges and despise seeing them do well or have good things done for them. When someone fails us, we hold that against them.
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked,"Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered,"I tell you, not seven times, but 77 times."" Matthew 18:21-22.
How many times do you fail God, just daily? Then, weekly, monthly, yearly or how many times in your entire life? We fail him endlessly, yet he still gives us his forgiveness…a forgiveness we don’t deserve.
We are called to serve. We are called to love. We are called to lead. We are called to forgive.
When God says do something, our heart and flesh say no, the Holy Spirit says yes.
