Last week, I wrote challenging myself and the rest of us with opportunities to live the New Covenant in the area of racial reconciliation. This week, I want to let two of the relatives of the victims who were slain, challenge all of us to forgive those who hurt us. These two of the nine, allowed Jesus to live through them to forgive the shooter face-to-face, though he did not ask for it, nor deserve it.
Nadine Collier, daughter of victim Ethel Lance
"I forgive you. You took something very precious away from me. I will never get to talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again, but I forgive you, and have mercy on your soul. ... You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. If God forgives you, I forgive you."
Relative of Myra Thompson
"I would just like him to know that, to say the same thing that was just said: I forgive him and my family forgives him. But we would like him to take this opportunity to repent. Repent. Confess. Give your life to the One who matters most: Christ. So that He can change you and change your ways, so no matter what happens to you, you'll be okay."
These are taken from an online article written by Elahe Izadi in the June 19th edition of the Washington Post online.
In a similar article in USA Today, Susan Miller writes "No words are as compelling as those from the people of Charleston, who refuse to let their city be defined by this massacre. Forgiveness, faith, and mercy: Virtues of those who live and breathe what they learn at a weekly Wednesday night Bible study at the AME church.
This is what it takes for good to overcome evil."
From People of Charleston, Lessons for All, Susan Miller, USA Today, Tuesday, June 30, 2015, News 2A
You've just read about Jesus living through our sisters in Christ. Yet, they don't try to hide their immense feelings of grief, loss and pain nor their desire for the legal justice needed.
Do you think they felt like forgiving? Absolutely not! But they chose to anyway, accessing the grace they already had in Christ to make this choice. In Christ, we are forgivers and we are told to live like who we are in Ephesians 4:31-32.
It is the beginning of our own healing when we do.
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you."
As we approach our celebration of the 239th year of the USA's freedom, why not go deeper in your own personal freedom by asking God if there are people He wants you to forgive. Then sit down before Him, alone preferably, and tell Him out loud:
- Exactly what they did to you.
- How you feel about it.
- Then say, "I forgive _________." (call their name)
● We've discovered at GLI that the more specific you are in all three, the deeper your healing will be.
Do they deserve your forgiveness? No more than we deserved God's forgiveness.
Forgiving someone is not saying you are OK with what they did. It's saying the opposite. "It was wrong but I choose to forgive you anyway."
Should you go tell them? Forgive them before God first, and then ask Him if He wants you to talk with them about it. He will make it clear to you. And if you do, it's most likely for the purpose of reconciliation which is different than forgiveness.
After you forgive, give God time to heal your damaged emotions. It may not be instantaneous. Also, if it comes back up in your mind, remind Satan you already forgave that person.
Forgiving them will free you more than you know from the weight of pain you have been carrying.
Happy Freedom Day!
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
www.GraceLifeInternational.com All Content Copyright © 2015 Mark Maulding but feel free to pass it on!
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