“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15 KJV
Yesterday we opened the thought that Christ is the Substitute and Mediator, between you and other humans. When you are wronged, you can go to Him for whatever you need: acknowledgment, apologies, repayment, restitution…
If you accept His substitution fully, you no longer need that pitiful apology from your brothers. Christ’s was so much better. You no longer need your brothers to hurt themself to repay their debt to you. Christ gave you more than you’d ever get from them! Besides, you have so much extra grace abounding that you have enough free love and kindness to share with them. And because you are stronger in God’s love, you don’t need their well-intentioned but poorly planned repentance, the unreliable promise not to hurt you again. With Christ as the perfect substitute, you don’t need their permission, presence, acknowledgement, apology, repayment, or repentance. You can set yourself and them free.
This thought takes a minute to absorb fully. Imagine yourself completely free of this situation, the grudge, the toxic emotions, the quandary of negativity and unanswerable questions, the trap that holds you hostage. You could be completely free of that. The love of God can give you this soul freedom. What would that freedom feel like, or look like to you? What would you be able to do with it? Write or sketch on a piece of paper.
God, You forgive so freely and fully it blows me away. I confess my unforgiveness of myself and others… and sometimes of You. Please forgive me and give me a new spirit. Teach me to accept Christ’s death on my brothers’ behalf and release them for their debt to me. Heal my heart and free me from this prison, restore my life and strength. Then give me what I need to give them. Amen.
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