Undeserved Forgiveness

Please watch the following short video and then read the closing remarks below. There is a prayer that we might find the grace to forgive at the end.

 

 

Do you remember that one of the writers in the video referred to the Amish attitude as "undeserved forgiveness"? I think if we're trying to understand the amazing grace that these people demonstrated we will find the key in that phrase, undeserved forgiveness. Because, my friends, all forgiveness is undeserved.

When we look at the things in this passage that Jesus is calling us to do he is at the same time describing to us what he did do. Without the provision of God we have nothing. He has given us everything we need to live. Jesus devoted himself tirelessly while walking among us to bring healing and comfort to those who needed it most, and continues to give us comfort and guidance through his Spirit.

Above all, when we offended, he turned the other cheek and took the hit. See him nailed to the cross to pay the price for our transgressions. And when he rose to new life he offered that life to us. The things that Jesus calls us to do in today's reading, this radical surrender of our own rights and our own possessions for those who don't deserve it, would be impossible for us to accomplish on our own.

Did you hear the Amish gentleman in the video? When he was asked how it was possible to forgive, he said, "with God's help." He didn't say, "I sucked it up and willed myself to forgive." He surrendered to the life of Jesus in him, and he found the grace to forgive there.

One last thing. Are you drawn to this story about the Amish people? Do you hold them in great admiration? I know I do. And did you notice how the people in the video, the ones who were commenting on the event, were so shocked and surprised by the Amish, but at the same time seemed to be wholeheartedly supportive? Can you guess why?

Because what they were seeing was Jesus in action. This is what Jesus did for us. And this is how God plans to use us, his disciples, to bring all people back to relationship with him. This is the plan that God has always had. This is how the Israelites were supposed to have lived, drawing all people to Zion. And this is how we, the new Israel, are intended to live.

The gospel that these Amish people preached was not a judgmental, condemning gospel. It was the gospel of love in action. Their suffering is bound to Jesus' suffering on the cross to demonstrate the love that can only be found in Christ. We read in 1 John 4:12 "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." No one sees God face to face, but when they see love like this, they see God.

We can do this. We can demonstrate this kind of love if we have the life if Christ in us. In fact if we are disciples of Jesus we must do this. Let us pray that we can be so identified with Jesus that the world is astonished by our grace and love. And let us commit ourselves to living this unnatural love in the world, to the everlasting glory of God's kingdom. Amen.

Let us pray.

Lord, we don't know how to make forgiveness happen. We can't cleanse our hearts or change our feelings. We don't know how to trust, and we're afraid to hold our hearts open. But today we're making a choice to forgive. Please God, give us the willingness and strength to persevere until forgiveness is accomplished in us by Your power.

Father, we let go of all resentments and bitterness stored up in our hearts. Wash us clean. Forgive us for all the condemning judgments we have made. Give us a new and right spirit that will help enable us to hate sin but look with Your compassion and love upon sinners. Heal the wounded heart of the child within us. Pour Your love in. Bless those who have wounded us.

Lord, we pray by this practice of radical forgiveness that the world will recognize you in us, and be drawn back into relationship with you, to the everlasting glory of your kingdom. And we pray all of this in the name of your son and our savior Jesus, who is our teacher and model for forgiveness. Amen.