A sermon preached by Revd Robert`Ferris based upon the Gospel passage for this morning - Matthew 18 - About forgiveness.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in thy sight O Lord our strength and our redeemer Amen
Our focus today is on the thorny topic of Forgiveness
Before I get into this topic
There’s a prayer we used to pray in the choir at my home church before every single service
Bless, O Lord, us Thy servants who minister in Thy temple.
Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts,
and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This topic of forgiveness
A topic which depending upon where you are coming from and what’s going on in your life right now be OK let’s think about this … but I understand that for some here this morning its one of those topics that we might be struggling with … either because we’ve been in a situation where we’ve been wronged by someone else and you are wanting to get the debt paid … or see the individual suffer for what they have done … or 101 other things.
From the outset – In the Apostles creed
1. We believe in the forgiveness of sins.
As Christians this is one of our fundamental beliefs … we say in our creed – we believe in the forgiveness of sins. Its also key in the Lord’s prayer – we ask God, our heavenly father … ‘Forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us’ – ouch!
This is really vitally important – core to our identity as Christians … that we have been forgiven and we are ones who are called to forgive.
This is not to say its easy … not at all – but we do need to explore this if we are to live life to the fullest.
I have met many people in life who are still holding on to issues which haven’t been forgiven, which are affecting them from moving on – this issue isn’t about excusing or apologizing for their behaviour or actions but saying I’m not going to hold that thing against them going forward – at the very least it’s saying my life is not going to be defined by your actions towards me … if that makes sense?
But there’s more to it than that.
2. Let’s look at the parable
let’s look at the master and the first servant – the servant is in debt to the master … he owes him much … he’s made wrong choices, he’s up to his neck in debt without any chance to pay … its affecting the life of his family and its beyond the point of no return he can only fall at the feet of the master and begged … I will try better, I will eventually repay … the master says go … the debt is wiped
Imagine the relief of the servant … what… did you really say that I am Free … imagine the relief, the incredible generousity of that master.
That’s an amazing place to be – all the weights lifted off – the shackles snapped
Folks .. when we understand the grace of God … the amazing love and freedom that we can have … no matter what we’ve done, what we owe – to be in that place of ultimate freedom is a place where there is no condemnation
This is how it is with us and God … when we ask for forgiveness he gives it
At the opening of our services … we recall that moment – we say sorry … and we are assured of God’s forgiveness … this is no little thing … its huge! God does forgive us.
BUT to those who have been given much … much is expected!
We’re called to pass it on – we really are
It’s difficult to get our heads around this – when we desvered something else … he provides us with love and grace … grace upon grace
So…
Letting this into our hearts and lives is vitally important
Then
We’re asked to be people who forgive like that … who pass on this gift of love and freedom to others
IN the parable .. the first servant fails to see this – and immediately goes about getting even with the second servant – this is not to be with us
In the small things
And ultimately to the big things
Forgiveness is not an easy thing … its not natural – we want to get even, to get our own back
I was speaking to someone on Friday who was recalling a conversation with a friend who was trying to understand forgiveness
So… what you’re telling me is … you believe that if someone was to do some serious crime against a family member you’d forgive them … not me! … I’d want to kill them!
This reminded me about Gordon Wilson in Northern Ireland and how he would forgive the terrorists who planted the bomb that killed his daughter.
Forgiveness is a difficult decision but without it … we lock ourselves up in a downward spiral of darkness and revenge. Forgiveness is a way of healing and allowing God in.
It is a difficult topic yes but as we see in this text if we withhold forgiveness there is consequences.
And when we pray the Lord’s prayer … we are saying – all of us are asking God to forgive us our sins and we forgive those who sin against us.
The person I was speaking to recalled how his friend couldn’t say that bit of the Lords prayer. This is desparately sad … and challenging. I applaud that person for not being a hypocrite in terms of having thought about this but we do need to delve into the issues surrounding what this leads to – Where there are issues of unforgiveness … we know that there are issues of hatred, loneliness, despair, violence, snowballing emotions & effects and 1001 other things which can lead onwards.
The road of forgiveness … is a road of release, of ultimately healing.
Those are difficult words but they are true and have profound implications
The only way I can understand forgiveness is to understand that I have been forgiven and the one who has forgiven me has asked me nay he expects me to pass that release on to those around me – for their sake yes but also for my own sake because he knows what is best for me. He loves me too much!
My challenging question for this week
What unforgiveness are you and I holding on to ?… what issue are we not prepared to give to God? What do we need to release?
Reflective music
