Forgiven
Forgiven.
This word is a word that sets off so many emotions in me. Over the next few weeks, I am going to be walking through this topic of forgiveness. For some of you just hearing that word makes your spine tingle because you can’t seem to forgive yourself much less embrace the grace of the Creator. Maybe you have been hurt so badly and forgiving the person or people who hurt you is hard for you to swallow. Let me say I am sorry. I am sorry your heart is bruised and that you are in such bondage to the pain that was placed on you by others. Sweet friend I hope over the next few weeks you are strengthened to let some things go. Will you lean in and allow God to stir those areas while He also stirs HIs redeeming blood over those hardened areas.
The word Forgiveness is defined by Webster as this; to cease to feel resentment against, to grant relief from payment.
What a definition that is loaded with FREEDOM.
Last week we celebrated Easter. I always have so many different emotions stirring in me this time of year. I am free. I am redeemed. I am loved. I have eternal security. I feel sad for those who have no hope & yet I have the determination to share the gospel more now than ever. Today I want to talk about someone who we always highlight as the jerk who started the walk to the cross and that is Judas.
When we open up God’s word and read about the events leading up to the cross I couldn’t help but think about the part Judas played. He was a disciple and he walked with Jesus and saw the power that was behind His love and ongoing pursuit of people all around him and yet he chose to betray Him anyway.
John 12: Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
This struck a chord with me.
I have seen Gods power displayed in my own life through prayers being answered to dreams being birthed in me. I have watched His hand guide me and I have felt His pursuit and yet I chose to ignore Him. At first, I had such anger towards Judas and then it hit me God knew it and He wasn’t surprised by it and He still chose to cover those moments with His blood. Easter forces us to remember the cross because it is what brings us hope and the comfort that Jesus covers all sin. I am surrounded by so many people who are struggling with their marriages, money, their past and current circumstances this week and if I am honest those things can seem bigger than the cross.
The enemy likes to keep you measuring Gods power because it keeps you constantly feeling like you aren’t enough or God isn’t big enough to handle the depth of your chaos or the weight of your sin. The cross should fill our hearts with a new passion because Satan is a liar and no matter what he throws at you what Jesus did on the cross will always be bigger.
Some of you need to hear that you are beautiful, redeemed, set free, made new, protected and provided for. Whatever it is you are in need of today I promise that the cross is where you begin. Embracing the love of the Father sets redemption in motion. It is the ultimate act of forgiveness. God forgives me for all my junk. It’s often our biggest perceived failures that position our hearts to embrace Gods greatest miracles. Just like the enemy smiled and thought he had won when Jesus took His last breath on the cross he awaits for you to crumble at the foot of your brokenness. God breathed new life into His son and He got up and walked out of that tomb. God is also calling you out of your disobedience, bitterness, resentment, self-hatred, addiction or whatever it is that is causing darkness to lurk around you because He wants you to experience His power of redemption like never before.
Today choose to embrace the forgiveness of the Father once and for all so that you can begin to walk in the beauty of His redeeming love as you choose to also forgive yourself and maybe those who have hurt you.
