In my last blog, I suggested that we are to forgive because we are essentially no better than anyone else. Today, I offer the most counter-intuitive reason for forgiveness. Although it is the most counter-intuitive and counter-cultural, it is the most Christ-like and the most compelling example of what makes Christianity real.
The Christian reason to forgive is not because it benefits you, the offended, but because it benefits the offender. Some of you may react to my statement because I do not understand the hurt you are experiencing and furthermore, my suggestion is even offensive and diminishes your pain. That is not my intention. I do know significant levels of hurt and I do not want to have hurt be the measure line of anything, but instead want to share God's heart as the measuring line of forgivness and the motivating factor for us to forgive those who have hurt us.
God's motivation to forgive us was not for God's benefit. God was the offended, because of our sin. Our sin seriously greives God, and thus God feels deeply as his creation continues to rebel. However, God forgives us not for His benefit, but for ours, the offenders. The world's values system rarely encourages forgiveness, but even when forgiveness is suggested it for the sake of the offeded. God's love and affection for us is so deep, that God forgivess us "While we were yet sinners..."
In other words, when we were at our very worst, God gave us His very best. But what is remarkable is that God did so even thought we never asked for it, nor did we express any desire to turn towards God. However, God and God's kingdom, embodies forgiveness that is motivated by the benefit of the offenders.
This is radical, but this is our God and I am a gredious sinner and offender against God, yet I stands completely forgiven because God had my best interest in mind when He forgave me.
The video below is an unbelievable true story of this type of forgivenss in action. God wants us to forgive as He forgives, but God also gives us Himself to enable us to forgive others, if we simply surrender to God.
Beams Away!
http://www.perrynoble.com/#ooid=pzNjIxMjovA-Lbzs_yR5ICjmREPiR7ZG
(Copy the URL above and paste it as a URL. Then scroll down the page to the third video. It is about nine minutes long, but well worth every minute.)
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