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Forgiveness—or “Lava Cake and Choosing to Love”

08.09.2016 by Jennifer Howe //

2As I think about our topic for this month, I’m aware it easily dovetails with my earlier post in the Perspective series on others. I wondered if this week would be “Part Deux,” and I’m walking the road farther with fresh eyes. Seeing others differently is the beginning of the journey, but something, maybe elusive but critical, takes us further: a decision. Maybe similar to an old Chicago voting slogan, we should decide early and decide often.

I’ll let you in on a secret—I’m a little like rich, dark chocolate lava cake. Lovely squat structure, a little spongy on the outside, but just below the surface is a warm, ooey-gooey puddle waiting to spill out. I’m a little soft and emotional that way, but most people won’t see it. Many of us have the self-control to limit our emotional vulnerability to those closest to us. There’s my problem. Probably like you, with few exceptions, my emotional “lava” is reserved for the regular characters in my story. They are close in proximity and emotional connection. The rude customer service rep is a one-time offense. The cold actions, hurtful words, or painfully obvious silence from a family member can have higher frequency. If I let my emotional “puddle” have its way, offenses add up, get stuck, and then spew. (Insert a mental image of vertical lava spew here rather than slow spread.)

It’s too easy to get into a rotten relational cycle, and that usually involves a grudge. So what’s the solution? When I take a look at Peter’s question and Jesus’ response, I pause for a bit.

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how many times could my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus said to him, “but 70 times seven.” Matthew 18: 21-22 HCS
 

I want to ask, “Jesus, do you mean 490 times a day? A week? Over a lifetime?” Did Peter want to ask those questions? I’m strikingly similar to the disciples; I have tendencies toward the search for understanding…and sometimes a loophole. That’s a bigger problem than I might want to admit.

Jesus’ use of the numbers 7 and 70 had purpose. He wasn’t suggesting a product solution of the two; he was indicating something significant (a cultural understanding of sacred numbers: innumerable responses and complete forgiveness[1]). I’m pretty sure the translation should be something like, “There is no offense that shouldn’t be forgiven.” Not one. Really? Absolutely.

The 490 times is important. Every offense. Every time. This is the “Forgive early, and forgive often” part of the process. Allowing resentment to simmer for any length of time only builds heat, pressure, and intensity. (Ask me. I know.) If it’s true that freedom waits on the other side of forgiveness, then why would any of us want to be in chains any longer than necessary. We can be free now!

In everyday life, I get tired. That’s when I make mistakes. I know the right thing to do, but it doesn’t enter my mind during the emotional chaos, or I just don’t want to do what is right. It’s important to acknowledge my ridiculous human frailty and my sinful nature that fights every step of the way as I try to learn, embrace, and live out the spiritual life my Abba wants for me. Sigh. This is not an easy fight, but it’s worthwhile! I want to remember there are consequences for the lackadaisical attitude every time I adopt it.

Every time I give up the fight, there is less “fight” in me for the next time. This isn’t new. The comfort level expands each time I relax into a decision (good or bad). If I’m candid with you all, I have relaxed into resentment too often simply because my pride says I deserve better treatment than I’ve received. You, too?

Oh boy! The truth is—I deserve nothing better than the punishment for sin because I have sinned.
 
For the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23a
 
Unless—
 
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23b
 

How do I magnify the offenses against me and minimize the offenses I’ve mounted against the One who is perfectly holy and has every right to punish those offenses? Suddenly, it can be “all about me” again. What does Scripture say about choosing resentment, carefully keeping lists of offenses, and nursing every grudge just a little longer to make someone else pay or make me feel better?

 Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy; is not boastful; is not conceited; does not act improperly; is not selfish; is not provoked; does not keep a record of wrongs; finds no joy in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth 1 Corinthians 13:4-6
 
When my choices do not reflect love, I have to ask myself what they do reflect.
Then I read Jesus’ words in Matthew:
 
For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours. 6:14-15 CJB
 

These two verses have always given me pause, but maybe not often enough. My Abba is not playing games with me, as if my relationship to Him were fragile or uncertain. The general commentary consensus is that the Church, those who identify as “God’s people,” are to be forgiving because we have received precious, unending forgiveness through Jesus. Every offense. Every time.

What do you think about the topic this month? Has forgiveness come easily to you? I’d love to hear how you came to a place of merciful or gracious forgiveness for others in your life. Or, feel free to kick around some of the difficulties you’ve faced. I’d love to read and respond to your thoughts below in the comments or at the Facebook page!

Thanks for reading along, friends!

 
                                                                   Signature, Jennifer Howe
 

 

¹ https://bible.org/question/what-significance-numbers-scripture, August 2016.
Scripture sourced from www.biblestudytools.com

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Categories // Forgiveness, Jennifer Howe's Perspective Tags // 1 Corinthians 13, Faith, forgiveness, Grace, Love, Matthew 18:21-22, Matthew 6:14-15, Romans 6:23

Comments

  1. Young says

    August 10, 2016 at 9:28 am

    Awesome sum up! I just want to encourage those of you who may feel “stuck” at times. You know, when you swear you forgave but yet you have to admit that you still “feel” resentment and anger. And you wonder and question whether or not you really forgave. Remember who you are. You live by the Spirit, therefore your sinful nature is dead and you are a new creation. Sometimes, we don’t need to look back but to look forward to how God see us in His here and now. And hold onto this vision and promise. Sometimes, I wonder if those “left over” feelings of hurt and bitterness are the whisperings of the enemy and not of me. He can be so sneaky that way. Booo to him and YEAHHHH to God!

    • Jennifer Howe says

      August 12, 2016 at 1:58 pm

      I love that you’ve said this, Young. It’s perfect timing for me to remember who I am in the middle of the repeated (sometimes every few seconds kind of repeated) intentional choice to forgive. And it certainly isn’t surprising that the enemy of our souls would want to see us feeling shaky and uncertain in our relationship to God or others.

      Love you! ~J

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