Forgiveness. I Get It! I Feel Squeaky Clean!

Temple of Forgiveness, Burning Man 2007

Forgiveness was the topic of our sermons this Sunday and last. Forgiving others. Asking God's Forgiveness for our own misdeeds.

I heard this, oh, I don't know, maybe 1,863 times but I finally got it this time around! I'm sure you have had that moment of self realization at one time or another. After going in one ear and out the other, someone finally says the right combination of words and all of a sudden a concept that we would blink blankley at makes complete sense. It gets caught in one of those little cogs in our brains and the light bulb goes on. Click. I get it.

I've led a blessed life; I don't have to try to summon forgiveness for someone who killed, raped, attacked, stole or otherwise maimed me or a family member.

Except for that sneaky abusive fraud I worked for, who lied like a snake so he could get rid of me, but I won't go into that....

I've forgiven the slimy little %#*#$@ but that doesn't mean I condone or agree with what he did. It means I've left it to God. As a result, I'm sleeping better. I've stopped dreaming about him. I don't wake up thinking about him. I'm even beginning to scrape some of my self-worth back together in a little pile. One of these days I might collect enough of it to knit a t-shirt or something.

The main points about forgiving others for hurtful deeds large and small are:



It's not up to us.


We are not the center of the Universe.


It's up to God.


It doesn't mean we condone.


It doesn't mean we forget.


It means we let go of the resentment, the anger, the hate.


It means we give it to God.


It means God is the One who judges and forgives.


God is.


It's not up to us.

As for our own misdeeds, If we ask God in the name of Jesus to forgive us, we are forgiven. Completely. New score sheet, please. Fresh start. Clean slate. Done. That's the one I have the most trouble with. How can I possibly be forgiven for every misdeed I have ever committed just by asking. Especially those I do over and over again? Stupid little stuff. Why?


Because of the Grace of God.


His Grace falls down on us like rain.

Sometimes in the process of asking forgiveness we forget to forgive ourselves.


We doubt the Grace of God.


We don't understand the meaning of grace.


Grace can be defined as favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it, and in spite of what that person deserves


I get it. That's a good description of me.


I asked for forgiveness today, and for the first time ever, I listened, understood and accepted that, yes!, despite my worth or merit or what I deserve, I am forgiven.


Squeaky clean.

Thank you God!

Try it.



Thanks, Pastor Chad. I really did get it this time.