2026-04-03
Good morning, Dear Ones,
Although I’ve written about forgiveness before, the Holy Spirit has more for us today. I remember from the time of my youth repeating PS 136: 1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” Those words were sometimes said by rote without the feeling I have in my heart now. My doctor has given me and my family a path to slow the progress of my kidney issues, and we are trying to take it. However, whatever God’s will is, I can know it’s in my best eternal interests. He knows the love I have for Him and the desire I have to serve Him as long as He desires. That surely involves His forgiveness for the sins I’ve committed in my life and the confessions I have offered. EPH 2: 4-5 is a reminder to us of great importance. “But because of His great love for us, God, Who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” What better faith-builder could He give us?
Forgiveness is releasing the weight of anger and resentment, allowing others and ourselves to find peace. It takes maturity to be forgiving—not to mention humility. One of the most poignant stories of forgiveness came when I was attending a Messianic Jewish temple service in Ft. Lauderdale, FL several years ago. I knew a Jewish lady born in Poland, who immigrated to the USA and joined this temple. She still had a number tattooed on her forearm by the Nazis when she had been in a concentration camp toward the end of WW II. Later, she had come to faith in the Lord Jesus. This friend had been asked to speak at the service and gave an account of her frightening experiences from Krystalnacht (the breaking of glass fronts of Jewish businesses beginning in Nov. 1938 –signaling the beginning of the Holocaust—to her family’s imprisonment at Auschwitz. She related with dignity eliciting the rapt attention of the congregation. Afterward, she fielded questions from them. At the end of the session, a man who spoke with a German accent approached her, asking, “Can I be forgiven for my sins?” Her face turned ashen as she stepped back, recognizing him as the same SS officer who had directed some of her family in one direction and others in the other in the camp. Those in one direction went directly to the gas chambers; those in the other were saved for another day. He went on to say that he confessed his sins after the war and had himself come to Christ. My friend gathered herself and came back to him. She said, “Yes,” the only answer our Lord would have wanted her to give from an obedient heart. There wasn’t a soul with dry eyes, including me. I too have lost a portion of my family in the Holocaust. It was a powerful lesson in forgiveness I will never forget. COL 3: 13, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Forgiveness is no easy matter. Our emotions often prompt us when angry to impel us to bitterness, grudge holding, and other destructive behaviors. But those committed to faithfully obeying the Lord must consider the example that our Lord Jesus set for us. During the crucifixion and just afterward, we learn of His example in LK 23: 34, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they divided up His clothes by casting lots.” It won’t be long before we commemorate the week of our Lord’s passion ending with Easter. Beforehand, Peter asked Jesus, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven time?’ Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times!” [MT 18: 21-22].
PRAYER: O Lord, You have made Your will clear repeatedly. You have also shown us that when retribution is appropriate, You are the One Who has the right to take it. And You will take it as shown in RO 12: 19, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written [DT 32: 35]: ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay’ says the Lord. Once again, You make this clear in REV 6: 9-11. Your will and Christ’s examples of forgiveness trump all human-crafted wisdom on forgiveness. We are grateful for Your wisdom and praise Your perspective, in the holy/mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: I am commanded to write the rest the Holy Spirit has to say on the extent and impact of God’s forgiveness. Then I’m to take up stubbornness, faithfulness, and confession. In the meanwhile, remember, “Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before Him and prepares the ways for His steps.” Those steps will lead to His greatest victory over evil. Praise and thanksgiving be to Him!
Grace Be with You Always,
Lynn JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2026. All Rights Reserved.
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