Good morning Jesus. Forgive us this day our debts, our sins, the times we’ve fallen short, just as we forgive those who have fallen short of our expectations, those who have disappointed us, those who have hurt us. Thank you for forgiveness, and the gift and status of right standing, completeness, and wholeness, because your blood has cleansed us and made us as pure as snow. This we do not understand nor deserve but accept with much gratitude. So set the prisoner free. Amen.
Forgiveness – a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.
according to The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley
Words from King David – You Must Set the Prisoner Free
Psalm 32:1-5 MSG
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean. Count yourself lucky—God holds nothing against you and you’re holding nothing back from him. When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans. The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out; I said, “I’ll come clean about my failures to God.” Suddenly the pressure was gone—my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared.
Sin Causes Issues
We can see in the scripture above, which is thought to have been written by David right after his sin with Bathsheba and having Uriah killed, that he struggled physically as well as spiritually. Until his confession, this shows the damage that unforgiveness (and sin) can have on someone.
Benefits of Forgiving
Then in Psalm 32, verse 5 we see wholeness restored. Here are some benefits of forgiving others:
- Healthier relationships
- Improved mental health
- Less anxiety, stress, and hostility
- Lower blood pressure
- Fewer symptoms of depression
- A stronger immune system
- Improved heart health
- Improved self-esteem
- We set the prisoner free
I have read several articles and studies on the act of failing to forgive. Unforgiveness is the practice of engaging in deep thoughts of anger, vengeance, hate, and resentment and hanging on to unforgiveness. As if we are really showing them! These studies indicate unproductive outcomes for the unforgiving person, such as increased anxiety, depression, elevated blood pressure, vascular resistance, decreased immune response, and worse outcomes in coronary artery disease.
I Will Show Them!!!
Now, who is getting the best of it, or should I say the worst of it? We have fooled ourselves into thinking, “We sure are showing them!”
So, the act of unforgiveness is not just a stubborn thought (thinking, simmering, consuming your thoughts) on giving someone who doesn’t deserve forgiveness something they deserve (at least in your mind). But unforgiveness, for both parties, is a serious matter with consequences.
“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.”
Theologian Lewis Smede
Oh, I could come up with a long list of people who have sinned against me. Drat, on the other hand, I can also think of a long list of people I’ve sinned against.
A Friend’s Sin
There is a story of a guy, who in his younger days sinned against his best friend. His best friend brainstormed many and various ways of retaliation. He milked that for all it was worth.
He shared with a military friend what had happened. His friend was a bomb squadron leader who said he could help build a small bomb and have fun with this (ex-best friend) guy. He shared with another friend who at the time was connected with a bike gang of dirty, hairy, smelly bikers (his words). He said that they could take care of this guy for him.
This (former) best friend was consumed to the point of wanting to know where this (ex) friend was so he could catch him in the act of sinning and expose him for his sin. After all, this guy needed to experience in some way the hurt and pain he had brought to his best friend.
No Good Comes From It
Can you see what this is doing, what it has done, and what it could lead to? It’s not a good ending for anyone. And this is only one story of millions. Can you imagine the hurt and pain that God sees? Imagine what God sees people going through in sin and unforgiveness, and what He sees that doing to His precious creations?
Ephesians 4:32 MSG
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
But God…you don’t know what they did to me! Oh, you do?
But God, they deserve all the karma in the world! Oh, I sinned once too? Oh.
But God …<<fill in your line of reasoning for unforgiveness here>>
Your life, the life of unforgiveness, isn’t worth the useless pursuit of anger and vengeance. Let it go and be whole again. Let yourself heal and move on with a productive, full life that is just waiting for you.
How can we forget how Christ has forgiven us despite what we’ve done? Don’t let unforgiveness literally ruin your life and possibly kill you. It will happen if you don’t let it go.
Unforgiveness, in not seeking God’s forgiveness, can literally kill you spiritually – which is the spiritual death, eternal separation from God. God forgave, and if He can, you certainly can as well.
Matthew 18:21-22 MSG
At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?” Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
I’m digging back in the archives for this song, but it sums up my thoughts for today…
Challenge of the day: Forgive, seventy times seven…and be forgiven. So be it!
