Forgiveness

Forgiveness is what the Lamb of God is all about. Where would we be, if our God was not a forgiving God. What a wonderful God we serve.

Before we discuss this topic, let us look at a scenario that many of us may be familiar with. Can you recall holding your child in your arms for the first time? And the wonderful feelings you had of becoming a father for the first time. I do. I can also recall holding my son's hands as he took his first steps, picking him up whenever he fell and hurt his knees.I can recall the silly stories I used to make up on the spot as he fell asleep.

That was many years ago and yet it seems like only yesterday. My son, Michael and his twin, Lydia are now 24 years old. Michael has left home.

I can recall him beginning to become independent, developing his own circle of friends amongst the other police kids in the barracks. Trying to talk to him about the importance of family devotion nights, was not getting nowhere. He would rather be with his friends than attend family devotions. Worst of all, I can recall the morning after one of our 'talks'. He called by phone to tell me he was moving out to try his hand in life. It wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t made it sound so obvious that, he didn’t want anything to do with me ever again and that, as far as he was concerned, I was dead.

Sometimes when I think back, it’s hard not to feel hurt, anger and outrage at the son, after all we had done for him.

Jesus told a very similar story, recorded in the book of Luke, chapter 15. The shock in Jesus’ story is that God is the father, and we are all like the son. The Bible says that God made us, to enjoy a relationship with him, but that we have become self-centred, and ignore him.

The son in the Bible story had a whale of a time for a while, but soon fell on hard times. When he reached rock-bottom, not even earning enough to feed himself, he thought he’d go back to his father, and ask if he could be a servant there. On the way home, his Dad spotted him…

Let’s pause there for a moment, remembering how we felt a moment ago. Rejected and hurt. How would we respond at this point?

…Well, the father ran to his son; ran, and embraced him. Not only did he take him back into his house, but he showered him with good things and completely released him. It was like he’d never left.

The Lamb of God was illustrating one of God’s key characteristics. We’ve all ignored God; we’re all self-centred and believe that we are better off on our on and yet if we ask God, he will forgive us and accept us into a relationship with himself.

The Lord’s Prayer says we should also forgive one another, as we are forgiven. If God, who is perfect, can forgive us, who are we to be above forgiving others? May God bless you all.

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