Thursday

Forgiveness

Ephesians 4:32 ESV

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

I remember when I was twenty-four, I was driving down a two lane road to  a job site. I saw a car coming towards me on the road and the car crossed over the center line. I tried to avoid him, but he actually followed me into the ditch, on my side of the road, and hit me head on. It totaled the truck that I was driving. The gentleman driving the vehicle that hit me did not have a license or insurance. In this situation he had lost control of his car and hit me. I could not sue, all I could do was take it. I was hurt but I recovered, even though I still have neck pain from that accident. The lawyer for the gentleman called me months later and asked me to sign an affidavit so that his client could get his license. I did not sign the affidavit. Now forty-five years later, I think about what I should have done, should I have shown the man mercy? Should I have forgiven him and allowed him to get his license?

It’s a judgment call, but my Savior took a brutal beating and hung on a cruel cross to bring me forgiveness. His sacrifice gave me acceptance and forgiveness and eternal life. I have forgiven the man, although he does not know it, but my Father does.

Prayer:

Lord, my judgment sometimes can be clouded. You saw me two thousand years ago and provided forgiveness for me, long before I was born. I want to be a forgiving person, Lord. You taught us to pray, “Forgive us our debts, AS we forgive our debtors.” I want to be that forgiving person, even if it costs me. In Your name, Lord Jesus, I pray,