Rooted in Forgiveness
by Tammy Iund Woodard
Monday - 1.25.21
Here’s a question I’ve been wrestling with: What does living in forgiveness look like? I’m not talking about an act of forgiveness. I understand what it means to have someone hurt you and you choose to extend forgiveness to them. I know there’s a living in forgiveness where old memories, old offenses, old trespasses no longer grip your mind and emotions. That’s not what I’m referring to.
I am talking about actively forgiving every day, all day long. I had someone cut me off in traffic. I had someone cut in front of me at the coffee drive-thru. I had a coworker act like a jerk. Now I ask again: “What does living in forgiveness look like?” I know those examples seem trivial in light of all that’s going on in the world right now. So let’s think about these scenarios. Someone I respect has different political opinions than I do. A family member or a friend is behaving badly. Someone writes something mean or offensive on my social media. Now I ask again: “What does living in forgiveness look like?”
I believe living in forgiveness starts with not taking offense. In this age of being offended at absolutely everything, I believe God is calling us, calling me to not take offense. If you don’t take offense then what is there to forgive? Proverbs 19:11 (NLT) “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.” Proverbs 19:11 ESV “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.” By not taking offense, you’ve eliminated the need to forgive. I’m going to be transparent here: this is a hard word for me. Sometimes, I think I enjoy being offended. Well I enjoy being right. I enjoy arguing for justice, or what I think is justice. I’m one of those odd folks who actually gets a rush out of conflict. But God has not called me to be right. He’s called me to love. God has not called me to argue. He’s called me to forgive. God has called me to “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 (NLT)
Ok, this may cause your inside voice to erupt, but God has called us to live like Jesus, not defend Him. I know the first time God said that to me my head almost exploded. If you’re like me, your inside voice is screaming: but what about truth and right and justice. Everyone can’t be right. There is right and wrong. You are absolutely correct. Jesus walked this earth full of truth AND love. It’s Christ living IN me and Christ reaching out THRU me. Of late, I find myself prayerfully considering every response I make. Every response on social media. Every response in person. I want to speak wisdom. I want to speak in love. I want to speak in truth. I want to speak like Jesus.
This is definitely a new way of looking at forgiveness for me. Almost a preventative measure, if you will. Christ said, “Father forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (referencing Luke 23:34). He said that while hanging on a tree after people literally screamed, “Crucify him!” He wasn’t even going to take offense at being murdered!
Thank God for His forgiveness, His grace and His mercy. My heart desperately wants to share the good news of the gospel with my community. I desperately want to see people’s lives transformed by the unconditional love of God the Father and His grace and His mercy. My prayer:
God direct my steps.
God direct my speech.
God direct my heart.
Call to Action
Spend some time in prayer this week. Ask God to direct you to scriptures on forgiveness. Write them down and write down what God is speaking to you about them.
Reflections
What does living in forgiveness mean to you?
How do you not take offense to egregious behaviors by others?
Is there anyone you need to forgive? Is there anyone you need to ask for forgiveness?
As you’ve prayed and read God’s word this week, what is God saying to you about forgiveness?
