LOVE FORGIVESЗагвар

If you remember on day 3, I shared a glimpse into my life and my relationship with my middle brother. Childhood wounds had built what felt like a chasm between us. I was given an opportunity to drive him to Charlotte, but I had to face my fears to do this. 

A couple of weeks before this trip, I had finished writing a devotional on Identity (not yet released).  I sent it to my parents to read before I share it with others because I shared painful moments that I wanted them to read first. I happened to be home the day my dad read my words about me and my brother. He read them out loud to my mom and me. I was crushed. My mom and I both cried.

It's now Thanksgiving, my dad read my words to my brother. I couldn’t imagine my brother hearing these words. I didn’t know my parents were going to do this, however, this led to my brother asking me for forgiveness. I was shocked. He wanted forgiveness for everything. 

On November 29, 2019, I was able to forgive my brother. On Sunday, December 1st, I will never forget being at my parent’s church and looking into my brother’s eyes. My heart broke for him. For the first time in a long time, I saw how deeply Jesus loved my brother. I saw how much Jesus longed for him. 

One week later, on December 7th, I woke up to a text that my brother had collapsed at work. By the time they got him to the hospital, he had already passed away from a massive heart attack. He was only 34 years old. My last text message to him was one of forgiveness. My last time seeing him was one of love. At the time, I didn’t know they would be my last moments, but these last moments are gifts I will cherish until I see him again. 

I didn’t choose to forgive him because I thought it was my last chance. My choice to forgive came from God melting my heart. It came from God showing me His overwhelming love for myself. It came from God showing me His overwhelming love for my brother. 

God had gifted me with forgiveness for myself years ago, but now He gave me the gift of forgiveness between me and my brother. Love is forgiveness and forgiveness brings freedom. FORGIVENESS doesn’t happen in your own strength. Forgiveness requires God!

As I prepared what I would write for my brother’s funeral I was brought to this Scripture: 

John 8:1-12 – “but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn, he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now, what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

We have all sinned. We have all hurt someone else at some point in our lives. Yes, some people have been hurt on much deeper levels. Yes, some sins seem more extreme than others; however, Jesus died for them all. Jesus looked at this woman knowing she was absolutely guilty of what they were accusing her of and He didn’t condemn her. He chose mercy. He chose grace. He chose love. He forgave her just like He forgives each and every person who asks. He died to give every person forgiveness. Not some. It’s not determined by class, race, or any other way we like to categorize people. He loved all. Died for all. Forgave All. 

He’s asking you to do the same.