Friday, March 6, 2015
A Reflection on Forgiveness from Sandy Cristan
To forgive is to set the prisoner free and discover
that the prisoner was you. ~ Lewis B. Smedes
Everyone, Lord? I know you give
your best to everyone in the warmth of the sun and the nourishing rain. I’m
supposed to react in love to everyone too? Really? You know I have forgiveness
issues, right? It’s a challenge to forgive and love as a way of life. Everyday?
Everyone?
I visit my dentist every six months for a check up.
I love my dentist, yet going to see him is not a favorite way to pass time for
me. He checks me out, points out my dental faults, drills as needed, and fills
the space with new material. I regularly need to seek God’s supernatural powers
to drill and remove decay from my heart and fill that space with love and
forgiveness. This will free the forgiveness prisoner that is me!
When I seek you for a check up, God, as my ultimate
loving example, I can more easily see how to reflect your perfect character to
others in all circumstances. The world’s example sneaks in rather often. Remind
me to keep my eyes on your perfection, not the worldview.
Prayer:
Father God, help me to
strive for your perfection, which guides me to react in your love even to those
I don’t necessarily feel love for! Teach me to respond in prayer, Lord, so that
your light and love shines through all I do today. (I’ll be sure to need that
again tomorrow and the next day and...). Use me today, Lord, to reach out in
your love to at least three people. Guide me to identify those people that need
to see your perfection. Hold me close, God; I need lots of practice here. I
seek your glory as I reach out in faith. Amen.
(When you have a spare moment, read this passage in
The Message. It may offer a fresh perspective for you.)
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