On our Forgiveness Fridays, we’ve talked in depth at how the decision to forgive others is a choice that God commands us to make. Even when it’s really hard for us, forgiveness is what is right and honorable in the eyes of Jesus. The good news is, He doesn’t just command us to forgive and then leave us on our own. We’re given the example of Jesus and all the times He forgave others (and still is), as well as we have the power of the Holy Spirit to help us through.
“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”
--Ephesians 4:32 (MSG)
Be gentle with one another, sensitive. What does that mean?
I want you to think for a minute about the writer (Paul) of the book of Ephesians, where the above Scripture is cited. If you study the past of the Apostle Paul, you will find that when he was a non-believer, he absolutely hated Christians. Paul’s hate for Christians motivated him to become a bounty hunter of sorts. He viewed Christians as criminal and would track down every one he could find and either imprison, torture, or even kill them.
The very belief and lifestyle of a Christian was offensive to Paul and his sensibilities. I can only imagine how after a long time of chasing people down that he hated, Paul soon became a man of anger and reaction. The concept of forgiveness or that he might need to be forgiven by the people he hurt, or even forgiven by God, I’m sure was far from his mind. I mean, honestly, it’s not far-fetched to think that Paul was a very hard and callous man.
So much so in fact, that I’m sure if he had been told that one day he would write, “be gentle with one another, sensitive” he probably would have laughed and denied such a statement would ever come from him.
But God changed Paul’s heart and gave him the ability to forgive and be forgiven.
Has anyone ever hurt you and in response…you SNAP? Maybe you start saying hateful things about the person behind their back or even to their face. Maybe you find ways to try and hurt them the way you feel they hurt you. I’m sure we’ve all faced similar situations and it’s in our nature to respond with bite and fury.
Jesus calls us to go against our nature.
He calls us to be a splinter, amongst a world that has a bad habit of following the grain and responding to difficult situations with haste, hate, and unsavory comebacks. A world that will tell you that being gentle, sensitive, and forgiving towards those that hurt you, is a sign of weakness on your part. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Even while dying on a cross, Jesus had the strength to give forgiveness to those that were mocking and killing him. He loved them that much. Brothers and sisters, God gives us the ability to love people with a strength that is not our own…even when they’re hurting us. To do so doesn’t make you a fool. It makes you obedient and Christ-like.
Is there really any other way you’d rather be?
