The Rudder

God doesn't hold grudges.

This is so incredible because we have almost no frame of reference in our lives to understand this. We live in a world dominated by grudges and resentment. The concept of retribution or payback is almost a national treasure. The injured party sneers at the offender saying, "Remember, what goes around comes around."But God speaks into this world a message of forgiveness. It is stunning in both its simplicity and impact. Imagine a world where grudges aren't carried and resentments aren't treated like precious cargo.

Forgiveness is not something to be taken lightly. A friend's wife passed away after twenty years of marriage. On her deathbed, she tearfully let him know she met someone online and had several affairs earlier in their marriage. The double whammy of pain was overwhelming for him. He spent months in the darkness of his room, feeling he had no reason to live. Into this shadowy existence, two truths emerged. First, he realized that his sins toward God were greater than her sins toward him. If he was to accept God's forgiveness, then he in turn had to forgive her. Second, he discovered that extending forgiveness didn't in any way mean that he was validating or justifying her actions. He forgave, because he had been forgiven.

Matt 5:7 "Blessed is he who is merciful; he will receive mercy."

God doesn't forgive in order to fix messy situations; he forgives because of who he is. It is his merciful nature. It is my desire to be like him--extending forgiveness and mercy rather than holding grudges whenever someone does something hurtful.