Forgiveness - That'll Preach!

I was watching the news the other night and saw a story of a man who had recently been sentenced to life in prison for having killed his fiancé.

 

Since I have been reading through the Old Testament recently, I thought about how this was different than what he would have experienced in the times of Joshua or David.  In those days, a killer wouldn't have lasted more than a few days before he was killed.  This man will not have to die as a result of his crime.

 

But then at the end of the story, the victim's mother was interviewed.  She said, "I have forgiven him because I have to."

 

What a statement of her faith.  She didn't want to forgive this man who took her daughter from her.  She probably didn't enjoy the mental exercise of trying to forgive him.  She is human.  I understand this.

 

But because God forgave us by sending Jesus, we are to likewise forgive others.  That is part of our "job description" if we are to be Christians.

 

We live in a vastly different world Moses and Joshua.  And a large part of the reason is Jesus.  He taught us a new way to live and gave us a new hope for our future.  We have been forgiven, and that means that we can live without the past continuously beating us down.  We can live for God and the future.

 

What a great joy for that woman to demonstrate her beliefs via a public medium like television.  I only wish I could have heard more of what she had to say, instead of the 5 second blips we get on the evening news.

 

And what a joy for those of us who accept the forgiveness that Jesus has to give.  God has forgiven us, and now we can really live.

 

God Bless,

JAy.