The Prison of Unforgiveness
“Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 (Holman CSB)
“And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you [us] in Christ.” Ephesians 4:32 (Holman CSB)
Forgiveness is such a hard topic for all of us today. We live in a very competitive world, where we compete and try to out do our neighbors. Perhaps, it is the fact that we remember the pain someone once caused us. Perhaps, it is the memory of a friendship turned sour by a betrayal. Worse yet, perhaps we have been upset with and are harboring a grudge against someone who doesn't even know we are upset with them for something we feel justified in being angry over.
If anyone was a victim of injustice in this world, it was Jesus. We recount how he was slapped, mocked, beaten, whipped, and ultimately nailed upon a cross to be tortured to death. Yet, Jesus, in the midst of his suffering, petitioned God to forgive us. In the last final moments of his humanity—in the last labored breathes before he suffocated—Jesus painstakingly uttered words on our behalf for forgiveness. Now I know we were not at the cross that day and none of us ever cried, “Crucify!” but our sin was there. Our sin nailed Jesus to the cross; he bore our sin and petitioned for our forgiveness from the cross, and forgave us from the cross.
I recently reread Corrie ten Boom's book, called He Sets the Captive Free. She recalls the time a Nazi prison guard savagely beat her sister, Betsie, when she was too sick to work. Corrie was so angry at this injustice, but Betsie begged Corrie to forgive the guard. Corrie was eventually freed from the Ravensbruck concentration camp. Betsie ended up dying in the concentration camp. Corrie encountered that same guard years later, and recorded these words as a testimony of her experience of forgiving:
“Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”
We have all messed up in some point in our lives and are in need of forgiveness. We have all had someone else mess up our Christian walk with the Lord with their non-Christian actions or attitude. Is there something in your life you need to let go of or someone in your life you need to forgive? Is there someone from whom you need to ask for forgiveness? Forgiveness unlocks the prisons and spiritual strongholds the enemy uses against us to hold us as spiritual hostages.
As I reflect on the mercy of Jesus on the cross, and the example of forgiveness from Corrie ten Boom, I am humbled and realize, the unforgiveness I have in my heart pales in comparison to their sufferings. Won't you take the step to free yourself from the self-imposed prison of unforgiveness?
Prayer: Dear Lord, I am not a perfect person. I need your grace and mercy to cover the multitude of my sins and cleanse me. I ask that you reveal any unforgiveness I may be harboring in my heart to me. Help me to forgive those I have grievances against. Help me not to become bitter and hold a grudge. Replace my feelings of resentment with your love and peace. Thank you for forgiving me, now Lord Jesus help me to forgive others as you forgave us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Rev. Vic Powell
Pastor
First Baptist Church of Cortez |
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