Knowing versus Doing

Knowing God’s will and obeying it are two different things. We learned in Matthew 18 that it is God’s will for us to forgive. There were no caveats that allow for withholding forgiveness in Jesus’ instructions. We are to forgive to infinity and beyond those who have wronged us, just like God has forgiven us to infinity and beyond for wronging Him.

How does one move from the head knowledge of God’s will about forgiveness to actually extending forgiveness? It seems impossible!

Here is the rest of my story. After reading and understanding Jesus’ words in Matthew 18, I was fully convinced that in order to honor God I needed to obey His word. With many tears, I confessed that I could never forgive this person who had so deeply wounded me. (God sees the heart, so being honest with Him is essential.) My prayer was short: “I want to obey You, Father, more than I want my next breath. Please help me obey.”

I still had no idea how I would extend forgiveness, but since I asked God to help me obey, my eyes were fixed on Him. Forgiving would require a miracle.

God is faithful, my friends. He never tells a willing believer to do anything that He does not also provide the power to obey. That is what He did in my life. He changed ME… not the offender. He healed my heart and helped me to not only forgive this person but to release them. Catch that - God helped me to let go of the wrong and never hold it against that person again. That is what God did with me. My wrongs were forgiven and removed when I received Jesus. My slate was wiped clean.

God worked in my heart and accomplished this miracle of forgiveness. Immediately the record that had been playing over and over in my mind ceased, and I was able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit and experience the peace of God; I was no longer troubled and afraid (John 15:25-27). I had my peace and joy back. I trusted God to carry out justice and let go of that job. I could let the hurt go and wish the person well because I had placed them in God’s hands.

I have never had a near-death experience, but I imagine that being healed and set free from the agonizing pain of betrayal is close.

“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea until they have something to forgive.” -C.S. Lewis