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GRACE AND FORGIVENESS ARE,  BY DEFINITION, UNDESERVED AND UNEARNED.

"The free gift of the Father’s forgiving love is, the pattern for His children in their forgiveness of one another." "--F.F. Bruce

We don’t offer forgiveness with any conditions.  We don’t offer it because we feel like it.  We offer it because we make a decision in our will to do so.  Ephesians 2:4-9

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Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

I have had many people say to me that this sounds like the right thing to do because God tells us to do so, and forgive. Then many ask, " how can I end such powerful emotions?" My answer is that it is always just a decision---our choice to confess them to God as sin and then forsake them. Then the application of God’s Word and prayer needs to be used to renew our minds. " Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Life’s choices are just a decision of our hearts and minds. They can be right decisions if we apply truth/scripture to each one.

While reading through some of my journal pages I found a letter written to my pastor. It is dated November, 11, 1986...just a little over two years after that unforgettable autumn night when God opened my heart and helped me to remember...so that I could begin to heal. I want to share part of that letter with you so that you can see that healing is not an instant process. Healing is not a "forget it now and go on in peace" process. This letter was written in response to a sermon he preached that God used to stir my heart.

"Preacher,
The day that I announced that I hated my mother I wanted to ask you if I was going to make it through this. I had definite doubt....I have kept my promise to you---I have sought the Lord and I have listened. I am still listening.

It is different with my mother, both times that she called last week I grabbed "  Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men."  and hung on...while kind of squinting my eyes because I don’t exactly know what that verse entails. The Lord gave me peace. No anger or bitterness. Hurt? Yes. I am thankful for the definite difference in me.

I have one nagging question. I don’t have the bitterness, the anger, even hate for the deeds done. I don’t feel shame or guilt, or forgiveness for her. I have asked the Lord often, How do I forgive her? I have a way of punishing myself for failure...and I have tried to forgive her.

The Lord took and shook me with  Luke 17:1-4 "Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Thank you for preaching God’s Word. I thought of your sermon all day yesterday. I read my notes over and over after church last night. I also got up very early this morning seeking for an answer....not an excuse.........

I don’t want excuses. I want right answers. I sense I have been trying to make myself forgive what Biblically I cannot. When I settle that question I can let this go. I want to be absolutely right with the Lord in this before I start dealing with it one day at a time. I don’t want past problems to affect things future.

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