John 20:19-23 (The Message)
19 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." 20 Then he showed them his hands and side. 21 Jesus repeated his greeting: "Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you." 22 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. "Receive the Holy Spirit," he said. 23 "If you forgive someone's sins, they're gone for good. If you don't forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
“Love implies forgiveness. It is hard for us to realize, but actually the only requirement the loving Father places on us, once we come to know Him...is that we forgive as we have been forgiven.” “The Other Side of Silence”, Morton Kelsey, p. 68
Forgiveness is a gift of God’s spirit. It is central to ALL that Jesus said and did.
It is central to what the Church is ALL about. It is a powerful, renewing, uplifting, hope filling, smile producing, releasing gift which in no way is meant to control or dominate the lives of others. It is meant to set one free to really live, with new choices and chances, and renewed vigor. We are to work at being forgiving until forgiveness works!
The goal of not forgiving is not to not be forgiving. The goal of not forgiving is to help the process get to the placed where we can forgive. For that is what love always wants to do, and must be ready to do. For we have been forgiven much!
“Love implies forgiveness.”
Morton Kelsey
Prayer thoughts for the week.
"Lord help me to: forgive when I don’t want to but need to:
accept forgiveness as vital to a happy life. (I do blow it a lot.)
love, but not forgive when it becomes more enabling.
work at being forgiven and forgiving until it works.
never give up on forgiveness."
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