Forgiveness

Illustration

Genesis 50:15-21

Forgiveness Is Inconvenient

In this story, Joseph has been the victim more than most of us will ever have to experience

Sold into slavery through little to no fault of his own

Takes that slavery, and builds himself a great empire

Loses it all to a false accusation

Forgotten about for 2 more years

Joseph’s brothers, who undoubtedly wished him death, have now come on their knees begging for his forgiveness

Joseph has every right to look at these brothers and deny them

It might even be easier because he is unrecognized by his brothers.

Revenge is staring him right in the eyes. He could not dream of a better scenario to exact revenge

But instead of doing what feels good or what is convenient, he provides for them

His heart is one that just wants to have restored relationships with his brothers

When we start to reflect on who we have to forgive, it can be easy to jump to judgement when others wrong us

What forgiveness is not:

It’s not saying it didn’t matter or that it didn’t happen. Rather it is acknowledging what happened and willing to let go of anger towards it

Application: Even if forgiveness is not what seems to be the natural response, it has to be our first inclination. When given the option of revenge, forgiveness should be where our heart lies

Forgiveness Is Expensive

Forgiveness is not only inconvenient, but it comes at a cost

When jesus tells the parable to the unforgiving servant, the king still lost an unholy amount of money

The debt was accrued for a reason. The king is the one who had to “eat the loss”

When faced with the opportunity to forgive others or hold them to account, especially when it comes with a cost to us, we must press on to forgiveness none the less

But what if they never face the consequences of their actions? What if they just get away with it? Shouldn’t they face judgement for what they have done?

These can be valid questions to ask when we experience hurt. But leave it to the Lord (Romans 12:19)

We see this ultimately expressed in the work of Christ on the cross

When he is paying the penalty for our sins and enduring the cost of them, it comes at a high price

He endures tremendously excruciating suffering so that we may be forgiven

Application: Forgiveness often comes at a high price. It must be one we are willing to pay

Forgiveness Is Experienced

We don’t forgive out of a bitter heart. Rather forgiveness comes from a heart that has been forgiven

We of all people should understand how much we’ve been forgiven. We have tried to walk step for step with Christ, yet we’ve all fallen short at one time or another

We understand how much had to be done for our sins to be forgiven, therefore we should be some of the first to express forgiveness

When we forgive, from a biological perspective, our brain transitions from the stress and fearful state it is in, to a more calmly functioning and perspective finding function

We are genetically hardwired to forgive one another. Our brain begins to heal when it experiences forgiveness

Application: What is stopping you from forgiveness? How does your experience with forgiveness play from the Lord help you forgive others?