GIVE FOR ONE ANOTHER
Forgive us the wrong we have done, as we have forgiven those who have wronged us. MAtt. 6:12, N.E.B.
"Will you forgive me?" Countless times in a lifetime we hear these words and repeat them ourselves. They are spoken with the apparent intent of healing a relationship, yet seldom produce the expected results. There are an ever-increasing number of broken homes and fractured relationships. Why?
Could it be that most people want escape from the pain of another's judgment without dealing directly, healingly, with the issues that caused the pain or alienation? Forgiveness rightly means "giving for" the other, to heal and nurture the other's hurt and needs. When forgiveness is sought only as a method of clearing the offending party of guilt, it actually blocks healing. It is at this point that much human agony exists, captured in a sort of no-man's land of issues rendered untouchable--"I asked you to forgive me, so don't bring up the subject again!"
Consequently, often the blame is shifted to the one who has suffered the hurt because he cannot respond readily to the offender who has "done his part." Listen: forgiveness is not something we grit our teeth and do. It is the product of a healed heart. And there are no self-healed hearts beating on Planet Earth! Only God's healing love can make us whole enough to forgive others even as they inflict hurt upon us.
Knowing that God does not expect us to muster up some kind of pious "OK" sets us free to bring to Him our incapacity to forgive our offenders. Sandwiched between the two clauses concerning forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer is the cry--"Save us from the evil one!"
God wants us to recognize our dilemma--and the way out! We need saving from the devastating effects of sin in our lives--of our separation from the healing love of the Father. So God gives for us that we might be able to give for one another. If we reject the healing process that He has made available to us, we will never be able to give for others. Giving comes after we have received "our daily bread"--the provisions of our loving, caring Father for our own needs.
Giving for another can be an intensely sweet exercise of faith in who God is, whether we are asking for forgiveness or giving it. And as we help each other's healing process, we ourselves find deeper healing.
Forgive us the wrong we have done, as we have forgiven those who have wronged us. MAtt. 6:12, N.E.B.
"Will you forgive me?" Countless times in a lifetime we hear these words and repeat them ourselves. They are spoken with the apparent intent of healing a relationship, yet seldom produce the expected results. There are an ever-increasing number of broken homes and fractured relationships. Why?
Could it be that most people want escape from the pain of another's judgment without dealing directly, healingly, with the issues that caused the pain or alienation? Forgiveness rightly means "giving for" the other, to heal and nurture the other's hurt and needs. When forgiveness is sought only as a method of clearing the offending party of guilt, it actually blocks healing. It is at this point that much human agony exists, captured in a sort of no-man's land of issues rendered untouchable--"I asked you to forgive me, so don't bring up the subject again!"
Consequently, often the blame is shifted to the one who has suffered the hurt because he cannot respond readily to the offender who has "done his part." Listen: forgiveness is not something we grit our teeth and do. It is the product of a healed heart. And there are no self-healed hearts beating on Planet Earth! Only God's healing love can make us whole enough to forgive others even as they inflict hurt upon us.
Knowing that God does not expect us to muster up some kind of pious "OK" sets us free to bring to Him our incapacity to forgive our offenders. Sandwiched between the two clauses concerning forgiveness in the Lord's Prayer is the cry--"Save us from the evil one!"
God wants us to recognize our dilemma--and the way out! We need saving from the devastating effects of sin in our lives--of our separation from the healing love of the Father. So God gives for us that we might be able to give for one another. If we reject the healing process that He has made available to us, we will never be able to give for others. Giving comes after we have received "our daily bread"--the provisions of our loving, caring Father for our own needs.
Giving for another can be an intensely sweet exercise of faith in who God is, whether we are asking for forgiveness or giving it. And as we help each other's healing process, we ourselves find deeper healing.
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