MetCPA

Supporting officers and staff to be the best that they can be

Forgive

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Wednesday 19th July 2017

Today’s exhortation – forgiving others

Forgiving others may be one of the greatest challenges we may face and it takes God’s grace and help so if anyone is struggling to forgive, call on the enabling power of The Holy Spirit. He is also called the Helper and is the same Person who helped The Lord Jesus say “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” God promises to give The Holy Spirit to anyone who asks. It must be noted that Forgiveness does not depend on fairness, on whether we feel like it or not or who was in the right or wrong, God simply tells us repeatedly that we must forgive! This doesn’t excuse what people do but we must recognise that “hurt people, hurt people.” The person who offended us may also have been hurt and is reacting to their hurt.

When it comes to forgiveness, the word of God are non-negotiable and uncompromising. God covers all angles when it comes to forgiveness- we must forgive if we have anything against anyone, or if we know that someone is having a problem with us. Jesus said, ““if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew‬ ‭5:23-24‬). Just to re-iterate, forgiveness is not a feeling but a decision, it’s an act of the will. Again if you’re finding it difficult, start by asking God to bring you to a place where you can choose to forgive, God will honour that. When the decision has been made, eventually the feelings will follow. To be cont..

Francis Hans-Jorie

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Tuesday 18th July 2017

Today’s exhortation – forgiveness

Forgiveness is all about us and very little about the offender because ultimately it’s for our own good. Forgiveness doesn’t depend on the offender’s behaviour but on our desire to heal and be healed. (Romans 5:6-11). Also whilst we hold the offender in the prison of unforgiveness, we may find ourselves also held in the prison of bitterness and hurt. Sometimes the person is oblivious to our hurt and pain and we’re the ones who suffer. But it must be noted that Forgiveness is not the following:
1- “Excusing or condoning wrong!” It never approves or justifies evil, reprehensible or wrong behaviour. It’s not okay because everyone does it or they couldn’t help it.
2- “Treating a wrong as if it didn’t matter” or denying that we’ve been hurt.
3- “forgetting it,” as if we hit delete, our brains go blank. We can’t forget the evils of the past else we lose lessons from them

4- “it’s not given because the person deserves it or earned it.” Jesus forgave His executioners even though they didn’t repent or deserve it.
5- it’s also not necessarily “reconciliation or restoration”‘to one’s former position of trust or power. Eg, a wife who forgives her husband for abuse shouldn’t automatically be expected to return to him. It may not be the wise or safe thing to do depending on the circumstances. A real repentance on his part has to take place before a loving relationship is possible.
Having said all this, I believe forgiveness is letting go of a record of wrongs and the need for vengeance and releasing the associated negative feelings such as bitterness and resentment. It’s probably the most selfish thing we must do because it’s more for us than anyone else. I pray The Lord reveals to us areas of our lives we need to forgive so we can be free…..

Francis Hans-Jorie