Meditations on Forgiveness
Perhaps on of the most helpful "words" I have ever heard is 'unforgiveness.' Until that point, I had always counted failure to forgive as a lack of the good thing I'd ought to aspire to; not the grievous presence of bitterness and malice that it was. The fact that Paul refers to it as a stumbling block within the Enemy's schemes against us [2 Cor. 2:10-11] ought to make us all the more eager to be rid of it.
In fact, 'unforgiveness' creates an interesting juxtaposition:
Where unforgiveness encourages us to nurse our wounds, and grieve in self-pity over the losses and injustices
...forgiveness demands that we forfeit our pride, our clinging to our rights, and our concerns with what we gain or forfeit in this life (see Heb. 10:34).
Where unforgiveness presses us to dwell repeatedly upon the nature of the injuries and the malice of the offender
...forgiveness leaves the hefty fees of another's selfishness and pride unrecorded (1 Cor. 13:5).
Where unforgiveness contents one with the ploy that retribution is sweet
...forgiveness leaves room for the omniscient One to take vengeance (Ro. 12:19) with the accuracy and perfect justice which repays 'every transgression and disobedience' with 'a just penalty' (Heb. 2:2).
Where unforgiveness insists upon being relieved immediately, and determines that nothing is so grievous or deplorable as what has been endured
...forgiveness looks wide-eyed at the cross, with unfathomable wonder at how the only One blameless (1 Pe. 2:22; Lk. 23:4, 14, 15, 22, 41, 47; Is. 53:9) could absorb to Himself the 'scorn of soul' (Ez. 25:15) and malicious intent which have defined the human race.
Where unforgiveness longs to be rid of the affliction, and cares only about relief from the venom
...forgiveness waits patiently, suffering with closed mouth, and a deliberate submission to the One who judges righteously (1 Pe. 2:23).
Where unforgiveness sees the offenses, and can look no further than the losses and calamity
...forgiveness 'peers past,' beholding the one at enmity as a creature in need of vertical reconciliation, and relief from misery (Ju. 10:15-16).
Where unforgiveness would mete out its own valuation of justice, would relinquish nothing except forcibly, would clamor for every reproach to be "undone"
...forgiveness surrenders to the nature of a God who created a people who would rebel against Him; and seeks to be included, caught up in the participation, of being an ambassador for His Name's sake (2 Cor. 5:20).
Where unforgiveness cannot see, does not wish to perceive, the like nature in itself
...forgiveness recognizes: 'it is all level ground before the cross' (see Col. 3:13).
Where unforgiveness fights and impedes the flow of grace, restricts the gift of mercy (see Js. 2:13)
...forgiveness offers that which has freely been received (Mt. 10:8; also Eph. 4:32).
Where unforgiveness drives us away from God, and enlarges itself through a hatred it justifies
...forgiveness lessens the "self" with a follow-through of sacrificial living, and a refusal to squirm off the altar [Ro. 12:1].
Where unforgiveness makes one more caustic, and self-righteous, and rigid
...forgiveness softens us with the knowledge that we are fully unworthy of the pardon we have been shown (2 Tim. 1:9).
Where unforgiveness belies the nature of the one offended as being holier, purer, truer
...forgiveness whole-heartedly recognizes that there is no merit by which relief from shame was ever reasonably granted (Titus 3:3-5).
Where unforgiveness buffers our pride, and satiates our vain displays
...forgiveness reminds us of and reconciles us with our place: that we are not greater than our Master (Jn. 13:13-16), who knelt down to cleanse the feet of him whose kiss of betrayal would spit in the face of faithful, unconditional love.
Where unforgiveness drives a disdainful wedge between us and the purposes of God
...forgiveness aligns us, with a penitent spirit of submission which sooner wills to see the unmerited grace we've received made manifest and available to others, who are equally as desperate and hopeless apart from His saving intervention.
Where unforgiveness works destruction and demise, a petulant stronghold which refuses to be put off or dismissed
...forgiveness works restoration, life itself, even when the giving of it means the death of the one through whom it is offered [Jn. 15:13].
"...so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan,
for we are not ignorant of his schemes."
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
In fact, 'unforgiveness' creates an interesting juxtaposition:
Where unforgiveness encourages us to nurse our wounds, and grieve in self-pity over the losses and injustices
...forgiveness demands that we forfeit our pride, our clinging to our rights, and our concerns with what we gain or forfeit in this life (see Heb. 10:34).
Where unforgiveness presses us to dwell repeatedly upon the nature of the injuries and the malice of the offender
...forgiveness leaves the hefty fees of another's selfishness and pride unrecorded (1 Cor. 13:5).
Where unforgiveness contents one with the ploy that retribution is sweet
...forgiveness leaves room for the omniscient One to take vengeance (Ro. 12:19) with the accuracy and perfect justice which repays 'every transgression and disobedience' with 'a just penalty' (Heb. 2:2).
Where unforgiveness insists upon being relieved immediately, and determines that nothing is so grievous or deplorable as what has been endured
...forgiveness looks wide-eyed at the cross, with unfathomable wonder at how the only One blameless (1 Pe. 2:22; Lk. 23:4, 14, 15, 22, 41, 47; Is. 53:9) could absorb to Himself the 'scorn of soul' (Ez. 25:15) and malicious intent which have defined the human race.
Where unforgiveness longs to be rid of the affliction, and cares only about relief from the venom
...forgiveness waits patiently, suffering with closed mouth, and a deliberate submission to the One who judges righteously (1 Pe. 2:23).
Where unforgiveness sees the offenses, and can look no further than the losses and calamity
...forgiveness 'peers past,' beholding the one at enmity as a creature in need of vertical reconciliation, and relief from misery (Ju. 10:15-16).
Where unforgiveness would mete out its own valuation of justice, would relinquish nothing except forcibly, would clamor for every reproach to be "undone"
...forgiveness surrenders to the nature of a God who created a people who would rebel against Him; and seeks to be included, caught up in the participation, of being an ambassador for His Name's sake (2 Cor. 5:20).
Where unforgiveness cannot see, does not wish to perceive, the like nature in itself
...forgiveness recognizes: 'it is all level ground before the cross' (see Col. 3:13).
Where unforgiveness fights and impedes the flow of grace, restricts the gift of mercy (see Js. 2:13)
...forgiveness offers that which has freely been received (Mt. 10:8; also Eph. 4:32).
Where unforgiveness drives us away from God, and enlarges itself through a hatred it justifies
...forgiveness lessens the "self" with a follow-through of sacrificial living, and a refusal to squirm off the altar [Ro. 12:1].
Where unforgiveness makes one more caustic, and self-righteous, and rigid
...forgiveness softens us with the knowledge that we are fully unworthy of the pardon we have been shown (2 Tim. 1:9).
Where unforgiveness belies the nature of the one offended as being holier, purer, truer
...forgiveness whole-heartedly recognizes that there is no merit by which relief from shame was ever reasonably granted (Titus 3:3-5).
Where unforgiveness buffers our pride, and satiates our vain displays
...forgiveness reminds us of and reconciles us with our place: that we are not greater than our Master (Jn. 13:13-16), who knelt down to cleanse the feet of him whose kiss of betrayal would spit in the face of faithful, unconditional love.
Where unforgiveness drives a disdainful wedge between us and the purposes of God
...forgiveness aligns us, with a penitent spirit of submission which sooner wills to see the unmerited grace we've received made manifest and available to others, who are equally as desperate and hopeless apart from His saving intervention.
Where unforgiveness works destruction and demise, a petulant stronghold which refuses to be put off or dismissed
...forgiveness works restoration, life itself, even when the giving of it means the death of the one through whom it is offered [Jn. 15:13].
"...so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan,
for we are not ignorant of his schemes."
2 Corinthians 2:10-11
posted by Purple at 10:32 AM
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