8/20/11
Greetings,If you’ve never heard about a woman named Corrie Ten Boom then it’s time you did! She has an incredible story of forgiveness, which is the topic of discussion this week. The fact of the matter is that unity among the body of Christ requires forgiveness. We are all human, and even the most spiritual among us do things that can be offensive or hurt others. If we refuse to forgive offenses, we effectively refuse God’s ability to work forgiveness in our midst.
Corrie Ten Boom was a World War II Holocaust survivor. She was taken to a concentration camp for hiding Jews in her house during the Nazi occupation of Holland. I need not go into the details of all that she faced while she was there. Her whole family was imprisoned, but both she and her sister were sent to the notorious Ravensbrück concentration camp. Corrie survived while her sister did not.
She became a preacher after receiving a miraculous deliverance from the concentration camp. After some time had passed, her preaching took her back to war torn Germany. On one occasion she was speaking in Munich on the topic closest to her heart—forgiveness. After she finished, a man made his way to the front to talk with her. It was none other than one of the most abusive guards from Ravensbrück. This was a man she was forced to stand before naked, shamed, and starved. The flood of memories caused Corrie’s blood to stand still. Although he did not remember her, she remembered him. Nonetheless, he asked to hear it from her mouth that he was forgiven for the sins he had committed as a guard. She did.
Her testimony is so powerful because it shows the limitless power of forgiveness. Some of us have a hard time forgiving the driver that cuts us off in traffic. Yet the power of forgiveness is as infinite as God Himself. There is no offence that is beyond forgiveness, and Corrie Ten Boom is an incredible illustration of this fact. How can one forgive another human being that showed only abuse, torment, and utter disregard for their humanity? The answer is only through the power of Christ.
As Christians, we can never get away from the fact that Jesus came so that we could be forgiven. Sure He came to heal us, to set the captives free, to give sight to the blind, and so forth. However, all of these other works are meaningless apart from our forgiveness and reconciliation to God. Jesus even explained that he healed so that men would know that He had power on earth to forgive sins.
“And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”” (Mark 2:1-12 NKJV)
It is clear from this account that the purpose for healing the paralytic was to prove that Jesus had the power to forgive sins. He came to forgive us. How often do you go out of your way to forgive someone else for all the offenses they have committed against you? The ultimate call of Christians is to be lovers of God and men. However, this rests entirely upon our ability to forgive like God forgives. Quite frankly, it is impossible to allow the love of God to flow through us towards someone we refuse to forgive. The un-forgiveness not only blocks God’s love flowing out of us, it puts us in bondage as well. Furthermore, we have a clear warning in scripture.
“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)
Forgiveness isn’t an option for Christians. It is a requirement. It doesn’t matter what’s been done to us or how horrific the abuse has been. Corrie Ten Boom proves to us that nothing is beyond God’s ability. With His power at work in us, forgiveness is possible in any situation. With Christ you can forgive the friend that turned their back on you. You can forgive the employer who treated you unfairly and unjustly fired you. You can forgive the mother that didn’t protect you. You can forgive the partner who walked out on you, who abused you, who cheated on you, or who blamed you for every problem they have. You can forgive the person who molested, or even worse, who raped you. With Christ, all things are possible.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)
Forgiveness is required for unity in the body of Christ. When we forgive, walls come down and we find deliverance. We find a new ability to embrace God’s love towards others and we walk free of the oppression that un-forgiveness enforces. When we release forgiveness every relationship in our lives will see improvement because it allows old wounds to be healed. If you have been harboring un-forgiveness, today is your day to forgive!
Discussion
1. Are there individuals that you made a point to decide you wouldn’t forgive today?
2. Are there individuals that you know you have to forgive after reading this letter?
3. What prevents you from forgiving both lists of individuals from questions one and two?
4. How do you think God feels about your answer to question three?
5. Are you ready to forgive both lists of individuals? If so use the following format speaking the prayer out loud.
Father, today I choose to forgive (name) for (list each individual offence they committed against you). Thank you that as You have forgiven me, I have forgiven them. I receive Your healing from every wound they have caused me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
