Avizandam In Scots law, this term describes the careful consideration given by the judge before an important decision. Join me each week as we explore various topics from a spiritual perspective and take matters. Avise endum One of the outstanding words of the Christian gospel is forgiveness. Unless we're totally deceived, do we realize that all of us do things and say things which not only can have a negative effect on ourselves. but which can hurt others.
Most of all, these failures, our sins, offend a holy God. When our Lord Jesus Christ was on the cross, he said, Father. Forgive them. for they know not what they do. The Lord Jesus came into this world to die for our sins, to rescue us from sins, and to shine his glorious light into our darkness.
Paul writes in Ephesians 1, verses 7 and 8: In him, that is, in Christ, we have redemption through his blood. The forgiveness of our trespasses according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us. The authentic follower of Jesus Christ is a forgiving person. I've personally experienced the forgiveness of God. which is based on the redemptive work of our Saviour.
And He lavishes His grace on us. Our transgressions are blotted out. Our sins are forgiven. We are washed whiter than snow. all through the grace of our Lord Jesus.
This results in tremendous freedom, security, and the desire to live for the one who died for us and rose again. But what about forgiving others? Can we who have been forgiven of all of our sins withhold forgiveness from those who offend us? Our Lord teaches us to forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. Similarly, Paul exhorts us to be kind to one another, tender-hearted.
forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. The relationship is an obvious one. God in His grace through our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us, and therefore we're to forgive others. But this is still difficult for us. Even when we forgive someone, we find it very difficult, if not impossible, to forget the offence.
The seeds of unforgiveness can rise in our hearts. How can we prevent this? That's a question I'm asked from time to time. If the spirit of unforgiveness rises, even though we have extended forgiveness to someone, We must pray for God's help. It is true that when God forgives us, He remembers our sins no more.
But we as human beings find that very difficult. But we are commanded to forgive. And therefore, it is a prayer according to God's will when we ask God to remove these sins of unforgiveness in our hearts. In Matthew 18, Jesus relates the parable of the unforgiving servant. And Jesus ends it by saying, So also my Heavenly Father will do to every one of you.
if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.
So, if you find it difficult to forgive your brother or sister from your heart, ask the Lord's help. You can do this. even though the person never admits the wrongdoing. Also, choose not to entertain in your mind any thoughts of unforgiveness. It's true, you will not be able to prevent the thought coming to mind, but you can certainly stop continuing to think about it.
Fix your mind on Jesus Christ, the author and perfector of your faith. Think of the things which are above rather than the things on the earth. as Paul explains in Colossians 3. Think about how much God in His grace has forgiven you. In other words, choose not to pursue the spirit of unforgiveness in your mind.
but to think on that which is true. Honourable, just, pure. Lovely, excellent, as said out in Philippians 4, verse 8. If you continue to wrestle with unforgiveness in your heart, after you have forgiven someone, do not talk about the person who has offended you. I remember Goodnay admonishing me on this some time ago.
An individual had offended me deeply. Although the person never admitted their wrongdoing to my face, I had written a letter expressing my forgiveness of them. I felt it did come from my heart. and was sincerely and freely granted to them. But a year or two later, when I was walking with Goodney, I brought up the person and the offence against me.
She asked if I had forgiven the person. and I responded I had. Here was our question. Why, then, are you continuing to talk about it, John? I realized Talking about the offence, talking about that person was inconsistent with my granting them forgiveness.
When God forgives us, our sins are separated as far as the East is from the West. They're put at the bottom of the ocean. and were washed whiter than snow. Never again will God bring these sins before us. as they are totally forgiven.
But we have to admit that continuing to talk about the offence may give us some pleasure. may make us feel superior to that person in our self-righteousness. But Paul says Be kind. Be tender-hearted. Forgive that person even as God in Christ has forgiven you.
As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus, With his strength. and with the power of the Spirit within us We will then be able to forgive that brother or sister or unbeliever from our heart.
So when you forgive someone Don't continue to talk about it. Don't even think about it. but rejoice in God's amazing forgiveness of you. Abyssando. You're listening to the weekly Avizandam podcast from The Verdict, featuring Pastor John Monroe.
John is Senior Pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Listen to John's daily program, The Verdict, on broadcast radio or major podcast platforms. For more information about the Verdict Ministry, visit us online at calvarychurch.com/slash the verdict.
