You know how people have a life verse? Well, when I was in high school, I learned a song that has become a life song. That song is "Take My Life" by Third Day. The first verse of this song is: "How many times have I turned away? The number is the same, as the sand on the shore. But every time, you've taken me back. And, now I pray you do it once more. Please take from me my life, when I don't have the strength to give it away to you, Jesus." I feel like this is all I say to God. I know it's not true, there are other prayers I have, but this is the one constant. I continually mess up and turn away from Him and EVERY TIME he takes me back into the same loving and healing arms as before. He forgives me. And, even though I left Him for a time, He assures me that He NEVER left me! No matter how long I was away, no matter how bad I feel I've messed up, no matter what sins were committed, no matter WHAT, God WELCOMES me into His presence! Now, I know that when someone has turned on me, i am not very willing to take them back...and even after forgiveness there is a time of dis-trust where the other person must somehow earn back my love and affection and community...until they do, they remain on the outside. This is common in our fleshy relationships...isn't it? When someone has wronged us, we lock them out for a time...sometimes forever... I'm will to bet that you have someone in mind right now. Someone who's done this to you...or someone you're doing this too. It's natural. When we are hurt, we want to protect ourselves.
God is not like that.
No matter WHAT you have done, God loves you the same and holds you in his arms even while you kick and scream like a child to get away from Him. And when it's over, He welcomes You back the same as before. No love to earn. No time to make up for. Nothing to work hard to get back. He just keeps on loving you. Unconditionally. What a great comfort and peace that truth is! But, there's more. Because God has modeled this love for us, because He continues to show us and teach us HOW to love, and because He created us in His own likeness...We are called to love the same. God's desire is for us, His people, to love each other unconditionally as he has loved us. We have the perfect model. The triune God of the Universe has shown us how...Now how will we respond?
I wonder, how can one forgiveness be the same as another? Perhaps what this person did to me is worse than what I've done to someone else? No, hunny. Forgiveness is forgiveness...there is none better or worse...it's forgiveness. If God has forgiven us (His people), and welcomed us back into His glorious presence after we have caused His SON TO DIE ON A CROSS because of our sin, how can we not forgive another person (also made in God's likeness) for whatever thing they've done to us? It's forgiveness.
Check out the song. It's amazing!
