For the next 7 days, I will attempt to write on the last sayings from Jesus as He hung on the cross. Now, most focus on seven but as I studied on yesterday, I learned that there is more than this so I will allow the Holy Spirit to intercede with me and tell it however it comes.
I’ll start today with Luke 23:34 in which Jesus spoke to his Father saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” See, even after He had been found guilty for committing no crime, He still asked His Father to forgive them. Yet, we stay in the house with folk, sleep in the same bed, under the same roof, share the same bathroom, eat the same food, ride in the same car and attend the same worship service and we won’t forgive them for stuff they did 10 years ago. You’ve worked with the same person for 10 years yet you won’t forgive them for something they said, even though it was right, 5 years ago. You won’t forgive because you’re still mad at daddy for leaving when you were 4 and now you’re 44. You won’t forgive the cousin that borrowed some money from you last year and didn’t pay you back although you’ve never missed a meal. You won’t forgive the Pastor for making a mistake yet you still sin every day. Chile, you better wake up. If Jesus can ask for forgiveness for the folk who mocked Him, spit on Him and cast Him out to be crucified surely you can forgive those who have hurt you. And yes, in forgiving you have to also forget because if you don’t then you won’t truly forgive. Why not, you ask? Because each time you think about the hurt, pain, abuse and lies that person did you get mad about it all over again which means you have to start the healing process over. However, if you forgive AND forget; you don’t think about it again and that anger that would have been present isn’t there anymore which means the devil has no place to reside because you do know that every time you get angry you give the devil a foot hole to stand in, don’t you? Forgive folk for the things they’ve done to you. You don’t have to do it for them but do it for you because Matthew 6:14-15 says, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” That alone should be enough.
Lakisha, the Author 