When I speak publicly, I often stress the importance of forgiveness. We all have times when we need to be forgiven, and when we need to forgive others. In His ministry, Jesus often spoke of forgiveness.
“Then Peter approaching asked him, ‘Lord if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.’” (Mt 18:21-22)
What happens when we don’t forgive? It is a poison to our body, soul and spirit. It causes mental and physical problems. If we only understood that God died for our sins, our brokenness and our lack of compassion and forgiveness!
“Yet it was our pain that he bore, our sufferings he endured. We thought of him as stricken, struck down by God and afflicted, But he was pierced for our sins, crushed for our iniquity. He bore the punishment that makes us whole, by his wounds we were healed.” (Is 53:4-5)
By His wounds we are made whole! Whatever hurt we have from other people, our brokenness and pain is there for Jesus to heal. We have to do our part and trust Him. Ask to be healed and want to be healed.
When it comes to healing, I have always felt that the story of the healing of two blind men in Matthew is a great lesson for us.
“And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed [him], crying out, ‘Son of David, have pity on us!’ When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I can do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord’ they said to him. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘Let it be done for you according to your faith.’” (Mt 9:27-29)
Apply this lesson to the miracle of forgiveness. So many times we feel that we don’t have it in us to forgive. We are so hurt, and in so much pain, we don’t want to forgive or feel it is impossible. We must believe and have faith that God will give us the grace to forgive even when we don’t want to or feel like it.
The foundation of all healing is love. The foundation of forgiveness is love. Since God is love, it is not difficult to ascertain that only through God’s love flowing into and through us that the miracle of forgiveness can occur.
In order to receive the love of God we must surrender to it. That is so hard for so many people. Where are you on surrendering to the love of God? Is it wishful thinking? One way to test yourself on your willingness to surrender is how you pray. For most people, their prayers are those of petition. Fix this, and do this and that. God becomes like a Santa Claus. We want Him to do what we think will help us, our family, health, finances, etc.
When we surrender to God’s love, everything changes. Our petitions become fewer. Our prayers are more praise and worship, wanting to adore Him and do His will. We want the gifts of the Holy Spirit not for ourselves but to build up God’s kingdom. We want to be used for healing and to evangelize to help people know Jesus and how much they are loved by Him.
We ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to be the ambassador of Christ.
“But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
When we receive this power we don’t want to hate or hold onto ill feelings, but to forgive.
To be healed is to die to our flesh. It is to seek holiness from our very souls. One of the greatest teachings for us comes from the Beatitudes. To be healed of our lack of forgiveness and receive the miracle of God’s love, we must live out the truth of what Jesus is teaching us through the Beatitudes.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3)
To be poor in spirit is to make God the priority in our lives. If God is the priority, we die to ourself. We aren’t focused on what others have done to us but how we can love them with the love of God.
The second Beatitude is: “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Mt 5:4)
So many times when we have friction between people, it is because they are hurting regarding something in their lives. It is hard to express our inner feelings when we are hurting. When someone expresses something that is a trigger, we respond negatively. Instead of responding in kind, pray for them and let God lead you in what to say and how to comfort them.
One of the most important verses in Scripture is “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.” (Mt 5:6)
Think about it. When we focus on doing the will of the Father, which is what this verse means, we don’t have the need to hold onto our animosity. It is impossible to hate, to hold grudges, to have ill will when we are filled with the love of God. When we hunger for it, we will receive it and the Holy Spirit.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (Lk 11:9-13)
When we seek God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, everything changes.
