The Heart of the Matter

Take a look at this video via this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXU3VE5eX4U (You will need to copy and paste it into your browser)

It's by Don Henley of the 70's band The Eagles. Listen closely to the words. Then read on.

I heard this song recently and it caught my attention. Why? Partially because The Eagles were one of my favorite bands back in the day but more because of the theme of the song, forgiveness. Here is the story of a broken relationship. There are some hurt feelings, but he has decided to make a choice. To forgive. It's a bit of a revelation for him too. If you listened closely you will see He realizes the power of forgiveness AND unforgiveness. The freedom of forgiveness and the bondage of unforgiveness. He also makes the choice to forgive "even if" he doesn't get a positive response back. Such wisdom and as far as I know Don Henley is not a believer in Jesus.

We believers in Jesus should have this same understanding and make this same choice. Jesus came and died for our forgiveness, even if. It's a gift and we need to take it. But just as importantly we need to give it, even if, because Jesus commands us.

Mark 11:25 ESV And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Matthew 6:14-15 ESV For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, (15) but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Luke 17:3-4 ESV Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, (4) and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Yet too often we don't choose to forgive. So many when hurt or wronged by another refuse to forgive and in some extreme cases go as far as to even try to get even. Yet forgiveness should be part of the fabric of a believer's life

Matthew 18:21-22

²¹ Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”²² Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

I am a firm believer that most offenses against us are not intentional. In other words people do not go out and deliberately try to wrong us. That should make it a little easier to forgive. Yet even if they do offend us intentionally, we still need to forgive. As I said before forgiveness is a powerful thing because it releases or frees people from a burden and you have that power when you choose to forgive, or not to. You can either free someone from their guilt and pain (like Jesus does for us) or hold them hostage to it.

So what are you going to do the next time you are confronted with this choice? Will you choose to forgive? Because just as the song says, for a believer in Jesus Christ, forgiveness truly is "The Heart of the Matter"

Until next time,

Pastor Paul