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Jan 25, 2024 18:30pm

Forgiveness

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My whole life I’ve been doing it wrong.

Do you find yourself saying this, too? After seeing a TikTok video of how to wear a neck pillow, I was in shock.

Been doing it wrong all along.

But what if we weren’t just talking about simple things? What if we were talking about major, life-altering moments of clarity where you realize you’ve been in the wrong and had no idea. Someone finally brings it to our attention and we shrink in shame as understanding and guilt flood our minds.

It doesn’t make us less guilty. Even if we are committing a crime and we don’t know it’s a crime, it’s still a what?

A crime.

And that makes us what?

Guilty.

For example, did you know it’s illegal in many states to sit on a sidewalk? Seriously.

And in Dodge City, KS, apparently, it’s against the law to spit on a sidewalk or in public. Weird, but true.

It makes me think of the episode of Seinfeld where the group from New York doesn’t intervene to help someone in trouble. According to that state’s law, they were guilty for not helping.

But they were still guilty.

Luke 23:34

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

Crucified. Nailed to a cross. Put on public display with criminals. Beaten. Mocked. Ridiculed. And yet, He was innocent.

And how does Jesus respond?

Forgive them. He asked the Father to forgive them.

To forgive us.

Even when we think we’re right but we’re wrong.

Even when we are unaware of our sin, but we’re still guilty.

And even when we are guilty and we know it.

Forgive them.

I can easily point out someone else’s sin that needs to be forgiven. But that statement was meant for me too.

The Father did that for us. In return, how should we respond?

With forgiveness.

Ephesians 4:31-32

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Mark 11:25-26

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Matthew 18:21-22

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”

Forgive them.