The Goal of Forgiveness

Forgiveness, God, Gratitude 0

The ultimate goal of forgiveness, just as the ultimate goal of our whole lives should be, is to bring glory and honor to God.

Forgiveness in the life of a believer showcases the astounding, redemptive heart of God.  It puts on display the riches of His abundant mercy and His amazing grace, for all to see….

Forgiveness is not just an act of obedience for obedience’s sake.  Yes, we are commanded to forgive.  And yes, we who have been forgiven so much certainly have no right to be debt collectors.  But more than an obligation, forgiveness is a high calling — an opportunity to be part of something eternal, to shower back our gratitude to the One who forgave us everything….

Think of it as an offering, a sacrifice, a love gift to God . . . for Him and Him alone.  If He adds to the blessing by causing our forgiveness to be of help to us or others, so much the better.  But to know that He is pleased and praised — that is reason and reward enough.

— Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Forgiveness, p. 214-215

Happiness

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Happiness is not squandered when it comes to people long bereft of it.  They know what to do — hold it gently like a small bird, amazed the bird came to alight, and be pleased to let it stay as long as it will.

— Tracy Groot, Madman, p. 159

Forgiveness and Feelings

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But forgiveness can’t be proven by our feelings, any more than it can be motivated or empowered by them.  Forgiveness is a choice.  And feelings often aren’t.  It’s quite possible to forgive someone in totally the right way — God’s way — and still have thoughts flash across your mind that completely contradict the decision you made….

But that doesn’t negate what you’ve done.  It simply gives you an opportunity to let Him rule over those emotions, to stay the course and keep on forgiving — by faith.

— Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Choosing Forgiveness, p. 171-172

Book Bliss

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We know that we do not need personal books — least of all librarian book collectors — but there is something about the way they speak to us unopened and spring to life when opened.  It is good to sit at home in peace surrounded by the books that mean so much to me, even if neither utilitarianism nor rationalism can tell me why.

— Michael Gorman, Our Singular Strengths:  Meditations for Librarians, p. 142

Why Not Forgive?

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This doesn’t mean that what’s been done to you isn’t terrible  But there is simply no comfort in unforgiveness.  It soothes nothing.  It takes you nowhere.  Why go on letting it eat you alive when God’s strength is so near at hand, so ready to bring you relief?

— Nancy DeMoss, Choosing Forgiveness, p. 170

Doing Things the Hard Way

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It pains me to see standers giving up the battle without a fight. They mistakenly believe that quitting is easier than standing. God has called you to stand for your family. He will not give you peace when you are disobedient to His calling. Remember what happened to Jonah when he acted in a way opposite of God’s will for him. Quitting is actually doing things the hard way. By doing things God’s way, the burden of responsibility is lifted from one’s shoulders. Let Jesus carry the load and rest knowing that He will
always be with you, encouraging you along the way.

Dennis Wingfield, “Standing Firm,” February 11, 2008, issue

A Generous God

God, Peace 0

God is so amazingly generous.  I ask, he gives.  Just like that.  I worry; he counsels me in the night.  He molds my very heart in his hands and instructs me in his ways.

— Patty Kirk, Confessions of an Amateur Believer, p. 255

Letting the Master Sleep

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“Where is your faith?” he asked them, and suddenly I realized that shrieking to Jesus to help me and having faith that he would take care of me were not the same thing.  Faith, that elusive gift that I could not earn, did nevertheless require doing something, something specific.  I had to calm myself with the certainty that I was loved and would be taken care of.  “Like a weaned child with its mother,” I had to calm myself enough to let my master sleep.

— Patty Kirk, Confessions of an Amateur Believer, p. 248