Forgiving The Unforgivable

Yes, I know you've been betrayed, done-in.  But as Christ-followers were called to forgive even the unforgivable.   But we tend to wallow in bitterness and resentment -- majoring in 'digs,' not grace. 

Recently I ran across a story about a five-year old by the name of Andrew, who was visiting a neighbor.  As he did Andrew pulled out a picture of his kindergarten class and started to point out his classmates, describing their less than laudable behavior.  “Now this is Robert.  He’s just horrible, hitting everyone!    And this is Stephen.  He’s just lousy, never ever listening to the teacher.  And this is Mark. He’s just ornery always chasing and teasing us.”  “And where are you Andrew,” the neighbor asked.  “Oh, that’s me, over there, with my hands folded, just minding my own business!!”

Don't you just 'hate' 'the Andrews' of the world; so 'holier than thou,' so 'self-righteous'? But don't let 'the Andrews' throw you:  none of us are innocent and good -- all of us are sour and sinful -- in need of grace and compassion. So let’s ‘shower’ grace and compassion in abundant ways!

One of the great examples of abundant, showering grace, is the grace shown by Esau to his brother Jacob in the Old Testament.  Why in Genesis 27 Jacob steals Esau’s inheritance through a vicious act of deception and tricky – and Esau is furious with Jacob, wanting to kill Jacob.  But then in Genesis 33 Esau wants to reconcile with Jacob.  We’re not certain why, but apparently Esau discovered his own sour sinful nature, thus becoming sympathetic to Jacob’s sour sinful nature.  And so in Genesis 33:4 the unbelievable occurs:  Esau runs to meet Jacob, embracing Jacob, throwing his arms around Jacob, and kissing Jacob (Genesis 33:4).  And with that, the two just held each other, and in the words of Genesis 33:4 -- “…they wept…”  (Genesis 33:4).  

It's God’s greatest desire that we too weep.  And so, yes, we have been betrayed, done-in; but as God has forgiven us, cleansed us – we must forgive and cleanse each other, through tears of compassion, mercy, and grace.  

And so I pray ‘Esau and Jacob’ moments will multiply, because as Christ-followers we are called to rise out of anger, bitterness and hurt – into a new embrace of love and compassion, through Jesus.  For to paraphrase Jacob in Genesis 33:11 – “…God has been [so] gracious to [us]…” (Genesis 33:11, adapted) – thus we must be gracious to each other!