By: Juliet Constantine
“Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4)
It is amazing what can be accomplished when ordinary people allow God to use them to do extraordinary things. It is even more amazing when people allow God to extend His grace to and through them. Forgiving someone is no easy thing, especially when their actions caused loss and deep seated pain. But God’s grace knows no measure. You can have all you need to accomplish what He expects of you. He gives more grace, more strength, more mercy and more peace to anyone who is willing to be obedient in following His instructions.
It must have been more grace that Iranian parents Maryam and Abdulghani Hosseinzadeh received why they were able to pardon their son’s murderer mere minutes before his execution. They were the designated hangmen for the accused; but instead of kicking the chair from under his feet, they loosed and removed the noose from around his neck, hugged him while assuring him of their forgiveness. This was an amazing demonstration of God’s grace – more than enough on which love could build and hatred defused. God gave more grace to Maryam and Abdulghani who were able to extend it to Balal. And they aren’t the only ones.
The people of Rwanda are a modern-day example of forgiveness in action. In-spite-of the horror genocide stories of 1994, they are choosing to let go off the hurt, lost, hatred and pain; and are embracing forgiveness and reconciliation instead. They are going for a total renewal, not just on the outside but on the inside too. As they rebuild their country to a beautiful masterpiece, removing all lingering trace of the genocide that almost extinguished them; they are also rebuilding their trust in each other as they choose to forgive. They have realized that making the outside beautiful is only the beginning. They need and are embracing an internal renewal of forgiving and accepting forgiveness. Many murderers are now like fathers and sons to those whom they destroyed. They are rebuilding the homes of their surviving victims and doing all they can to alleviate their suffering. In their desire to make it right, God gave them more grace, more faith, more mercy, more strength and more peace. Out of His infinite riches, He gives them more grace.
And if the Rwandans did it, we can too. “When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is undone, when we reach the end of our horded resources, our Father forgiveness is only begun.”
It’s no easy feat to forgive someone over and over again, especially for the same wrong. It’s as if they aren’t sincere and has no desire to stop. But God did not mean forgiveness for only the offending party. Forgiveness works equally well for the offended too. Releasing someone from the wrong they did or continue to do to you is freeing your heart to receive God’s abundant grace and peace. In-spite-of of the atrocities done to you, when you choose to truly forgive, you can smile, love and embrace. No, you are not a fool when you forgive. You have chosen not to be a victim anymore. When it seems you can go no further, He’ll give you, and continues to give you, more and more grace to help you achieve your goal. You only need to do your part – choose to follow His instructions; choose to forgive.
Our Father, thank You for the assurance that You will send us more grace to help us In obeying Your commands. Please help us to free forgive others as we seek Your forgiveness and mercy. We thank You for strengthen us to do the right thing. This is our prayer in Jesus’ name, amen.
Copyrighted by Juliet Constantine 2014 (for “Alone With God – Finding Jesus In The Scriptures” Daily Devotional)
