THOUGHTS (by Pastor Lisa Hufford):
The man owed his lord billions of dollars. It was a debt so large that he could never hope to repay it. His plea for forgiveness sounds just as absurd as those in the news who ask for forgiveness after squandering and losing billions of peoples' life savings on highly risky money making schemes. How do we even think about forgiving people who destroy our financial well being and the livelihood of people around the globe? How do people forgive those whose rape and murder sons and daughters, mothers and fathers in places like Rwanda and South Africa? How do we forgive our parents for the hurt they caused us or our spouses for their betrayal of our trust? How is it possible to let go of our anger and even our rage to forgive seventy-seven times, as Jesus tells us to do? But what happens if we don't forgive? What does our future look like without forgiveness? Is it true that there is no future without forgiveness as Desmond Tutu claims?
One of my friends in seminary was John, a Lutheran pastor from Rwanda. In the refugee camp in Uganda John came to the same conclusion that Desmond Tutu came to: There is no future without forgiveness.Eventually, John, strengthened by God's grace, gathered the courage to begin to model that forgiveness, extending his hand to those of the other tribal group.
Forgiveness is not easy when we are filled with anger, rage, pain and brokenness over what was done. While we never forget the pain and the hurt inflicted on us, forgiveness invites us to release all that hurt into God's care and to move forward, allowing the seeds of new life to take root in us. It seems to me that in many situations forgiveness is not within our own human power. It is only through God's care and love for us that we are enabled to move towards forgiveness. It is indeed by the grace of God that we forgive and move towards nurturing the seeds of new life.
The man owed his lord billions of dollars. It was a debt so large that he could never hope to repay it. His plea for forgiveness sounds just as absurd as those in the news who ask for forgiveness after squandering and losing billions of peoples' life savings on highly risky money making schemes. How do we even think about forgiving people who destroy our financial well being and the livelihood of people around the globe? How do people forgive those whose rape and murder sons and daughters, mothers and fathers in places like Rwanda and South Africa? How do we forgive our parents for the hurt they caused us or our spouses for their betrayal of our trust? How is it possible to let go of our anger and even our rage to forgive seventy-seven times, as Jesus tells us to do? But what happens if we don't forgive? What does our future look like without forgiveness? Is it true that there is no future without forgiveness as Desmond Tutu claims?
One of my friends in seminary was John, a Lutheran pastor from Rwanda. In the refugee camp in Uganda John came to the same conclusion that Desmond Tutu came to: There is no future without forgiveness.Eventually, John, strengthened by God's grace, gathered the courage to begin to model that forgiveness, extending his hand to those of the other tribal group.
Forgiveness is not easy when we are filled with anger, rage, pain and brokenness over what was done. While we never forget the pain and the hurt inflicted on us, forgiveness invites us to release all that hurt into God's care and to move forward, allowing the seeds of new life to take root in us. It seems to me that in many situations forgiveness is not within our own human power. It is only through God's care and love for us that we are enabled to move towards forgiveness. It is indeed by the grace of God that we forgive and move towards nurturing the seeds of new life.
PRAYER:
Let us pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Let us pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
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Today's devotion is written by Pastor Lisa Hufford. If you'd like to discuss topics of faith with her, come to our Faith Discussion Group on Wednesday (3/18 or 3/25) in SUB I Patriot's Lounge.
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