Matthew 18: 21 - 22 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"
I don't remember all the details surrounding this, but several months ago, our church was vandalized by several teens in our community. They came in and destroyed computers, and did a lot of damage to the Youth department of our church. I remember the emotion surrounding this crime and how strongly it affected the staff at our church. There was over $100,000 worth of damages. Following that time, our preacher asked for us to pray for those kids who had committed this horrible act. I remember this feeling of sadness that everyone felt for our loss, but more so, a sadness for this group of young people who had carried out this act of violence.
Last Sunday our sermon was on Forgiveness. Rev. Mitchell is always sharing these little stories to bring "home" his point in the sermon, and this Sunday was no different.
He told about an encounter he had had on his way to Wednesday night supper at the church. He said that he was in his office and had started to make his way over to the Family Life Center for dinner. Between the church office and the Family Life Center, there is a driveway. Rev. Mitchell shared that as he was coming across, he noticed a car pull up right beside him with two young guys in it.
The boy driving asked if he knew if the preacher was there.
Rev. Mitchell said, "Yes. I think he is. He usually is at this time on Wednesday night."
The boy said, "Do you know where he is?"
Rev. Mitchell replied, "Yes. I am pretty sure I do."
Then the boy said, "Well, do you think that I could talk to him for a minute?"
Rev. Mitchell playfully said, "I think that could be arranged. You see, I am the preacher."
The boy got out of his car and asked him if there was somewhere that they could talk, and so, if my memory serves, they went back to Rev. Mitchell's office.
He was coming to tell him he was sorry. He was coming to ask for forgiveness.
The boy shared with him what he had gone through the last several months in boot camp, I presume as punishment for his crime, along with ways he was trying to "pay back" for what he has done. And he shared with him how his life had changed dramatically since that occurence. I think that this must have taken great courage on his part, to come back to the very place of worship that you broke into, and ask humbly for forgiveness.
One of my favorite parts of the story was that Rev. Mitchell shared about how moved he was by this young boy's sincerety. Rev. Mitchell told the congregation that he wasn't a very "touchy feely" kind of guy, and that he rarely hugged someone, but he said when the boy reached over to hug him, that he hugged him back, and shared at that moment one of the most meaningful hugs he's ever received.
That's what true forgiveness can do for us. It took a lot of courage for this boy to show his face. For him to admit his wrongdoing, for him to face the Preacher of the church he destroyed, and ask for his forgiveness.
I was very moved by this sermon, because it taught me that forgiveness can do wonders for a relationship, it can do wonders for our own lives. If we are holding on to something that someone has done to us, or the wrong we feel we've received at the hand of another, that grudge is only hurting us. Sometimes, we hold onto those because we lack the courage to just forgive, or the courage to ask for that forgiveness. Sometimes we have to forgive the other person even before they ask. What a wonderful testimony of how true forgiveness works for the one wronged, and the one doing the wrong.
Dear Lord,
I am so thankful for this message of forgiveness. I am thankful that you sent it to me at the right time. There are many things in my life that I am "holding onto." Lord, I pray that you will help me to work on these areas that need forgiveness. I pray for those people that I am thinking of now. Help me to forgive.
I love You, Amen.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment