Matt Nussbaum spoke so poignantly about forgiveness on Sunday. I’d like to think I’m pretty good at forgiveness; it’s a rare occurrence that I hold a grudge against someone, and when I do, it’s not for very long. When Peter so proudly suggests that he forgives his brother only seven times, I found myself scoffing at him! What a low number!
Then The Lord poked at my heart. He revealed to me that I am not nearly as good at forgiving as I give myself credit for. “You still haven’t forgiven a few people,” said the Holy Spirit, in His still, quiet voice. “In fact, you’ve been holding transgression in your heart, and until now you’ve ignored it.” And I learned on Sunday that withholding forgiveness doesn’t always mean staying angry, or wishing harm upon someone. Withholding forgiveness is revealed in the small ways that I treat the other person: am I salty when something good happens to them? When I make plans, do I intentionally exclude them? When I hear their name, how does my gut react? Is Christ’s Love evident in me when I engage with them?
In Matthew 18:33, in one of Jesus’ parables, the Master of the House says, “Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” The Holy Spirit convicted me - the Lord has not muted His kindness because of my sin. Praise Him for that! And I shouldn’t minimize my kindness toward someone else. This is a life-long transformation. Thank you, Jesus, for your continual work in me.
-Noah