Forgiveness

We are always astounded (are we not) by those who have been the most wronged, who have forgiven so completely, it appears as if they have forgotten as well.

So it is with Jesus Christ... He has been the most wronged and yet He has so freely forgiven us... Not only that, but He paid our penalty for those things that we all need forgiveness for... To not forgive means that on some level, pride, fear and power (over others) are what motivate us... This does not mean that we are to be naive or foolish and to trust those people who continue to demonstrate they are not capable of being trustworthy. But it does mean that trust should always be commensurate...

We are forgiven because He is gracious... We should forgive because we live in grace.... It works both ways, backwards and forwards... To imitate Christ is to forgive and to learn how to trust again...

Forgiveness is rarely an event... Although it begins that way... Like most things in life it is a process that demands commitment and perseverance. But this is also the part that "unconditional love" plays as well... There can be no true love for another if pervasive fear, personal pride, the will to power and trust are the dominant issues... Is there ANYTHING that the world needs more than a better understanding of than these issues?