Hindrances to Imitation

Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? Matthew 18:33

Have you ever found it difficult to forgive an individual for an offense you had against them? What if someone owed you a certain amount of money and you knew there was no way they could ever repay you? What if someone did something to you that caused wounds and years of pain to you? Sometimes we are able to handle forgiving small offenses but the bigger the offense the harder it tends to be to forgive them. Why is that? Why is it that we hold so tightly to bitterness, unforgiveness, and revenge?

Part of the answer lies in the fact that we have a misunderstanding of what forgiveness is and what it isn’t. We are holding off the forgiveness and holding on to the grudge because of what we think it will mean if we actually let go. Let me give you just two misconceptions we often have. Forgiveness says that what that person did was okay and forgiveness says there are no consequences to that person. If this is you and it is causing you to bind yourself in bitterness allow me to mention a resource that may be helpful. Christine Wyrtzen speaks on this subject of forgiveness and has a CD entitled LONG LIVE THE KING. It can be ordered by going to her website, http://www.daughtersofpromise.org/. She offers a wealth of information that will help you get started on the road to forgiveness.

But along with that I would encourage you to take the time to read Matthew 18:21-35. It is the gripping account of someone who was extravagantly forgiven but chose to continue to walk in unforgiveness toward another person. It contrasts the heart of God with a heart of ingratitude and coldness. It is such a striking story because it causes me to see myself when I can receive something from God and yet refuse to display the same attitude and action toward another individual.

God’s intent is not that we would simply be the recipient of His love, mercy, grace, patience, and forgiveness but that we would be extravagant in showing those things to others. This is only possible as we see what He has done for us and then ask Him to empower us to do the same.

Father, You have shown me Your heart innumerable times through your acts toward me. Create in me a heart like Yours. Reveal to me my walls of resistance for imitating You to others. Amen.