FORGIVENESS

FORGIVENESS  

REFLECTION:  Wednesday, October 18, 2017

                What is involved in forgiveness? Genuine repentance

and this goes beyond an apology or even an expression of regret. It is a change of mind that produces a change of action.

                Repentance is the way we deal with sin but is deeper than regret because it involves a determination to change. Change may not be instant but it can be genuine. When a person repents they need to do so with feeling and usually with words. But without repentance the process is broken.  True forgiveness flows toward repentance. Process is clear—I am sinned against, I confront the offender, he sincerely declares his repentance and I declare forgiveness.  Yet if this process does not occur, that is the offender will not admit the sin, no matter how clear the evidence or there is no regret what do you do then? It is not always easy to forgive!

                Forgiveness can only come from those who have been wronged. And yes, forgiveness can occur but forgetting what occurred will unlikely be erased completely from memory.

                Tutu wrote: “Forgiveness and being reconciled are not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not patting one another on the back and turning a blind eye to the wrong.”

                Forgiveness looks sin in the eye and speaks the difficult words: “I forgive you.”  Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation. Forgiveness clears the ledger but it does not instantly rebuild trust. Forgiveness is given; reconciliation is earned. Forgiveness cancels debts, it does not eliminate all consequences. Forgiveness involves both choice and process.

Questions to consider:

1.       How would you distinguish between forgiveness and reconciliation? Does it make a difference to the degree of reconciliation one has with the other person? How?

2.       Jesus says to forgive even 7 x 7 times per day as long as the person seeking forgiveness is willing to r repent. What does this notion of repentance mean for you? Does repentance matter for you?

PRAYER

Wonderful God you call us to forgive those who seek to repentance just like you ask us to do. Sometimes it is so difficult and yet you do it because of your amazing gift of grace and unconditional love. Help us to fully realize your gift of grace and to share this with others. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Resource:  Gary Inrig, “The Risk of Forgiveness: What it means to forgive”. Discovery Series, ODB Ministries. p. 23-27. NEXT week will be the conclusion of this series with the “Four Steps of Forgiveness”.