The Glories of AltarsSample

Release

re·lease | rəˈlēs | verb

—to free from obligation, debt, or penalty; to transfer a matter or relationship to God for His perfect judgement and mercy; to forgive

I have chosen the verb release instead of forgive for this altar because it is the practical action of forgiveness, but of course I am equally referring to forgiveness. Unforgiveness destroys our lives bit by bit. It manipulates our perspective. It dictates our responses. It undermines healthy relationships. Unforgiveness churns within until bitterness sets in. Bitterness is the unbidden habit of replaying painful scenes or conversations. Harboring bitterness is like a venom injection—it poisons the soul.

At this altar we commit to God the sins others have committed against us, knowingly or unknowingly. We then release those people to God. In so doing we are not excusing their sin. We are relinquishing our right to punish or retaliate and trusting the Lord to perfectly administer justice with mercy. This person is now responsible to God. After many years of practice, releasing has become my first response to relational pain. What peace!

Sometimes the person who needs to be released to the Lord is ourselves. In this case we ask God and others to forgive and release us. Then we must by faith receive forgiveness and make restitution where possible.

Each of us has been so extravagantly forgiven by God through Jesus that we are rendered free to forgive others. Jesus placed this transaction in His example prayer for all people—"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” His Spirit is committed to empowering us to give and receive forgiveness, step by step.

Let Us Release

• Let Holy Spirit gently reveal places where unforgiveness is hurting you.
• As you approach this altar take an account of the sin others have committed against you and those you love without making excuses for them.
• As God reveals these wounds, cover each in the blood of Jesus and release the person to His justice and mercy.
• Some sin committed against us and sin we have committed against others can be released in a moment. But there can be grievous, weighty sin that requires taking a more careful account. In these cases, it takes time for Holy Spirit to unveil the extent of the wound. He provides the grace to forgive and release in parts. In these cases, I like to take some hours, or even days, to list the clinging tenacles of the injury before the Lord, then individually present each part to God.
• Sometimes in the process of forgiveness, you may begin to sense God’s compassion for the perpetrator of your pain. They too are victims at some level. If this sense of compassion is illusive, you could ask the Lord to unveil what He sees when He looks at the offender’s life and begin to say the good (however small) He reveals as an act of faith.