Good and Beautiful and KindParaugs

A Revelation of Divine Love

Because of the central themes of Christian faith—such as confession, repentance, and humility—followers of Christ should be best positioned to model what forgiveness looks like. Yet the powerful phrase, “Will you forgive me?” is difficult for most of us to utter.

Whether we are talking about a child who took another child’s toy, or a nation colonizing another nation’s land, we must become fluent in the foreign dialect of forgiveness-asking. I recognize the complex nature of this. For one person, there was no offense, therefore, there’s no forgiveness to request. Yet, for the other person, the wound inflicted was clear as day.

I think of a conversation I had with someone who didn’t like what I said in a sermon. After a few conversations in which I clarified my theological thought process, the person was still very unhappy with my conclusion. Finally she said, “It’s okay, Pastor Rich, I forgive you.”I thought, Why in the world am I being forgiven?

In these moments, by God’s grace, we must seek clarity on how the other person perceives the conflict and, with humility, name our blind spots and work towards healing.

When we ask for forgiveness ourselves, we need to focus on our actions rather than the other person’s perceptions. Focusing on the person’s perception leads us to say things like, “I’m sorry you feel that way” or “I’m sorry you took offense at what I said.” Our world—the personal one filled with friends, family, and co-workers, or the public one that exists outside of our community—cannot move beyond the fractures without getting this right.

When we give and receive forgiveness, we beautifully reflect the image of the One who knows our sins and failures and pronounces pardon over us. Forgiveness ultimately is a revelation of divine love—the kind of love that forms us more deeply than the world’s cycle of retribution and violence. It draws us, even in our brokenness, into the kind of strong, loving life that God wants for us and that Christ showed us so clearly.

Lord, I confess I am not always quick to forgive others or recognize my own need for forgiveness. Help me to live out the grace and humility that Christ lived out for me. Amen.