How to
Forgive
One day a while back, a man, his heart heavy with grief, was
walking
in the woods. As he thought about his life this day, he knew
many
things were not right. He thought about those who had lied about
him back when he had a job.
His thoughts turned to those who had stolen his things and
cheated
him.
He remembered family that had passed on. His mind turned to the
illness he had that no one could cure. His very soul was filled
with
anger, resentment and frustration.
Standing there this day, searching for answers he could not
find,
knowing all else had failed him, he knelt at the base of an old
oak tree to seek the one he knew would always be there. And with
tears in his eyes, he prayed:
"Lord- You have done wonderful things for me in this life. You
have
told me to do many things for you, and I happily obeyed. Today,
you
have told me to forgive. I am sad, Lord, because I cannot. I
don't know how.
It is not fair Lord. I didn't deserve these wrongs that were
done against me and I shouldn't have to forgive. As perfect as
your way is Lord, this one thing I cannot do, for I don't know
how to forgive. My anger is so deep Lord, I fear I may not hear
you, but I pray that you teach me to do this one thing I cannot
do - Teach me To Forgive."
As he knelt there in the quiet shade of that old oak tree, he
felt
something fall onto his shoulder. He opened his eyes. Out of the
corner of one eye, he saw something red on his shirt.
He could not turn to see what it was because where the oak tree
had
been was a large square piece of wood in the ground. He raised
his head and saw two feet held to the wood with a large spike
through them.
He raised his head more, and tears came to his eyes as he saw
Jesus hanging on a cross. He saw spikes in His hands, a gash in
His side, a torn and battered body, deep thorns sunk into His
head. Finally he saw the suffering and pain on His precious
face. As their eyes met, the man's tears turned to sobbing, and
Jesus began to speak.
"Have you ever told a lie?" He asked? The man answered - "yes,
Lord."
"Have you ever been given too much change and kept it?" The man
answered - " yes. Lord." And the man sobbed more and more.
"Have you ever taken something from work that wasn't yours?"
Jesus
asked? And the man answered - "yes, Lord."
"Have you ever sworn, using my Father's name in vain? " The man,
crying now, answered - "yes, Lord."
As Jesus asked many more times, "Have you ever"? The man's
crying became uncontrollable, for he could only answer - "yes,
Lord."
Then Jesus turned His head from one side to the other, and the
man
felt something fall on his other shoulder. He looked and saw
that it was the blood of Jesus. When he looked back up, his eyes
met those of Jesus, and there was a look of love the man had
never seen or known before.
Jesus said, "I didn't deserve this either, but I forgive you."
It may be hard to see how you're going to get through something,
but
when you look back in life, you realize how true this statement
is.
Read the following first line slowly and let it sink in.
If God brings you to it - He will bring you through it. Lord I
love
You and I need You, come into my heart, today. For without You I
can do nothing.
|
