Day 7: A Testimony of Forgiveness
As you begin to spend time with God, settle yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Spend a few moments gathering your thoughts, becoming aware of God’s presence with you and in you.
Journal for 5 minutes on yesterday’s experiment of meditating on God’s mercy towards you. What did you notice and learn? What challenged you? Did God say anything to you throughout the day?
Then, begin today’s devotional.
Read: Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 7:36-50
What are your testimonies of forgiveness? We all have them. Take the story of the woman who poured her perfume on Jesus's feet in Simon's house in Luke 7. She lavished her love on Jesus and in turn, forgiveness was lavished on her. She showed tremendous courage that day - to go the Pharisee's house, bow before Jesus and weep before him. Her tears, her kisses and her perfume were all tokens of her love and ultimately, testimonies of forgiveness.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. If we are not extending forgiveness to others, we cannot receive forgiveness.
If we don't forgive, anger becomes a burden.
If we don't forgive, joy suffocates.
If we don't forgive, bitterness will crowd out compassion.
We've been shown forgiveness, so we should extend it. If we do not, we cannot receive forgiveness.
I get it; it's hard. Being angry is easier - living forgiven and extending forgiveness takes work. Jen Hatmaker, in her book Of Mess and Moxie, identifies what forgiveness is not: "Forgiveness is not condoning evil, not forgetting, not brushing something under the carpet, not a free pass. It does not mean minimizing the injury and, consequently, your pain. It doesn't shrink an offense down, making it smaller in memory, in impact. It doesn't shrug off loss with a ‘no real harm, no real foul’ response. It does not mean conceding, surrendering to a different version, or yielding your right to dignity. It never communicates that this didn't happen, it didn't matter, or it didn't harm" (page 91).
Sometimes forgiveness isn't a one-time choice. We have to repeatedly choose it and go after it, like a muscle we have to start using and keep using it over time. Forgiveness is the long road, a road that Jesus walked before us, paving the way. We cannot claim His mercies without also claiming this practice.
We must do the hard work and fight the urge to remain bitter. We must choose to stop replaying the wrongs against us. We must stop mourning for an apology that may never come. And instead, we must choose forgiveness.
Prayer: Lord, like the woman in Luke 7, I have cheapened my life with some of my choices. I have a great debt. But I have also been pharisaical; I have judged, I have hardened my heart, I have looked down on others and I have not extended forgiveness. Enable me to do the hard work of forgiving. Embolden me to use the muscle of forgiveness, and to not let bitterness or resentment take root. Remind me of the lavish love and forgiveness I've received from you. My debt is great; your love is greater. Amen.
Today’s Experiment: Take some time to think about and journal responses to the following questions. How have you experienced the Lord’s forgiveness? How have you received forgiveness from others? Why is forgiving someone so difficult? What is keeping you from extending it to others? What is your testimony of forgiveness? What does a life of forgiveness look like?
When you're feeling disappointed in someone, whisper to yourself: I forgive them.
Map out a few times when you've been offered forgiveness. How did it feel?
Think of recent hurt(s), gather stones and make your way to the waterfront. Name the hurts and throw the stones into the water. How does releasing those stones make you feel?
By Sarah Jobson, Director of Residence Life and Housing