Recently Pastor Paco at CLC Middleton brought a message on offenses. One of the “nuggets” I received was, “We are not obligated to take the offense just because it is offered. Being offended is a choice.”
At the end of the service, Pastor Paco gave a chance for everyone to “forgive” offenses by saying out loud, “I forgive (insert name).”
My mind was blank. I could not think of the name of someone I needed to forgive. That did not last long. By the time I got home, a few people came to remembrance, then a few more. I asked God to help me forgive.
This morning, I opened one of my daily email verses and Proverbs 17:9 reminded me that there might be a few more “names” about to pop into my memory. “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” [NLT]
Thinking about those I need to forgive, thinking about the offenses that came my way, I realized that many were deeply buried. And I will admit that there are parts of me that are not sure I want to forgive them! I will also admit that some of the deepest hurt came from people in the church, not those I encountered in the secular world.
I guess I know where God is leading me today! “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you, But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” [Matthew 6:14-15 NLT]
Father God, help me to forgive. Amen
