Brought to you by prayer warrior Bobbi Heffel
"Her teaching focused on the Christian Gospel, with emphasis on forgiveness. In her book Tramp for the Lord (1974), she tells the story of an encounter while she was teaching in Germany in 1947. She was approached by a former Ravensbrück camp guard, who had been known as one of the most cruel. She was reluctant to forgive him, but prayed that she would be able to. She wrote,
"For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then."
She also wrote (in the same passage) that in her post-war experience with other victims of Nazi brutality, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives."
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (NIV)
1 John 2:11-13
11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
What do love and forgiveness have in common? Well, you can’t really have one without the other. It takes a measure of love to forgive and it takes forgiveness to be able to love. Even in a healthy relationship unforgiveness will choke out love and an abundance of love will usher in forgiveness.
Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation where we just don’t think we can possibly love this person or ever be able to forgive that person for the horrible wrongs they have committed. Yet, we must remember that God first loved us and that he commands us to love others. If it were not possible how could he commands us to love and forgive?
Because He loves us, love is already present in the situation. When we choose to obey him and practice love and or forgiveness because he told us too, and we are obeying him, we are loving him back. Sometimes we must repeatedly choose to love/forgive a person until it takes root in us and becomes real.” Lord, I choose to love/forgive ’ Z’ because you have told me too.” Even when we have practiced love/forgiveness to the point that our heart has been transformed, the enemy will fling that thing back up at us in a moment of weakness. He so delights in stirring up troubles for us, if we allow him to. We must stand strong against his tactics. We must choose to obey the Lord.
I am reminded of Cory ten Boom. How the guard who had tormented her during her imprisonment came to her and asked for her forgiveness. May we also choose to love and forgive, especially when we must pray for the strength and ability from the Lord to accomplish his teaching
"For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then."
She also wrote (in the same passage) that in her post-war experience with other victims of Nazi brutality, it was those who were able to forgive who were best able to rebuild their lives."
Prayer
Lord thank you for loving us so much that you sought us out at our lowest, worst condition. Thank you for transforming us into the image of Christ. Please continue to teach us to love in a way that glorifies and honors you. Thank you for the freedom that comes with forgiveness. It always amazes me just how heavy unforgiveness is when I feel the lightness of it being lifted off my shoulders. I don’t know why our human nature wants to hold onto unforgiveness when it is so much more pleasant to live in the light of your glory and grace. Thank you for the assurance that we, your children, are forgiven and loved!
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