Liturgy for Life : WK 3 - THU

Bold Forgiveness

Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

The directive is clear. We move with the boldness and firmness we are called to in our Hebrews text today. We understand that humanity lives in a state of weakness; we will always be causing reasons to confess and forgive. Sin reigns in what seems like a perpetual cycle. Yet we have a beautiful promise that Jesus who understands our weakness has an abundance of mercy and grace for us when we need it the most. The older we get, the need for confession and forgiveness increases, and so to make it a habit is necessary. Because when we do so, grace reigns over sin, and mercy over trespass.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote much on forgiveness. Here’s one of his more famous quotes: “Forgiveness is the only way to heal ourselves and to be free from the past. Without forgiveness, we remain tethered to the person who harmed us. We are bound to the chains of bitterness, tied together, trapped. Until we can forgive the person who harmed us, that person will hold the keys to our happiness, that person will be our jailor. When we forgive, we take back control of our own fate and our feelings. We become our own liberator.”

When we forgive, we our choosing who reigns in our life. We choose to free ourselves from the pain and hurt that someone caused us. We release them from having a hold on our future, and we move forward towards healing. That does not mean the relationship gets fixed immediately, or ever, but it means we can start to heal. So when we forgive others it is a bold move of grace on the perpetrator and ourselves.

It is a bold move to also come to Jesus with repentant hearts. But God invites us to do just that. Because he is also in the business of giving us freedom from guilt, to give us grace when we need it the most, and to start the process of healing. Our own internal healing also takes time, but the practice of confession and walking in the light will guide us each day.

1. Who do you need to forgive that you haven’t. Be bold and forgive them, free yourself from the chains of bitterness and resentment.
2. How does it feel to know Jesus understands your weakness? Be fully transparent in your time with him. He has more than enough mercy to spare.