Unfading
     Beauty

I have had the privilege of having a chapter published in Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace.  It will be released by Moody at the International Christian Retailers’ Show (ICRS) in Denver.  I am looking forward to attending the event.  Proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit “Wings,” a safe-house for the victims of domestic abuse in the Chicago area, and “Hands of Hope” whose outreach targets the enormous impact of poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic among women and children in Africa (www. http://margaretmcsweeney.com).

What thoughts fill your mind when the word forgiveness is spoken?  Emotionally is your heart at peace?  Can you say with confidence there is no one that I need to forgive or who needs to forgive me?  Or, do you experience that nudge from the Holy Spirit that reminds you of an unresolved circumstance?  Did you know that failure to forgive can have devastating effects?  From physical illness to spiritual ineptness, choosing not to forgive or seek forgiveness can have far-reaching consequences.

Forgiveness is an action that demonstrates the Multi-tasked Woman’s ability to be flexible and contributes greatly to a heart of contentment.  “Forgiveness [is] a term denoted in the Old Testament by words that mean ‘send away,’  ‘cover,’ ‘remove,’ and ‘wipe away.’  In the New Testament ‘send away’ is used most often; forgiveness is also communicated by words which mean ‘loose’ (Luke 6:37), ‘be gracious to’ (Luke 7:43; 2 Corinthians 2:7), and ‘pass over’ (Romans 3:25).  The Bible records human sinfulness, God’s eagerness to forgive, and frequent calls by the prophets, Jesus, and Jesus’ followers for repentance from sin and return to God.”¹  The Scriptures paint a magnificent word portrait of God’s forgiveness . . .

·  Nehemiah 9:17 portrays God as being “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in kindness.” 

·  Exodus 34:6-7 compares God’s response to the penitent and impenitent sinner. 

·  The Psalmist offers the imagery that “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). 

·  Isaiah paints God as casting all of the prophet’s sins behind his back (Isaiah 38:17) and as “blotting out the people’s transgressions” (Isaiah 43:25). 

·  The vivid language of Jeremiah 31:34 and Micah 7:19 emphasizes the completeness of God’s forgiveness.  When He forgives, men’s sins are dealt with thoroughly.  God remembers them no more! 

A Multi-tasked Woman seeks to incorporate God’s gracious response and her Lord’s model (Luke 23:34) into her own biblical method for forgiving others, as well as seeking others’ forgiveness—in fact, she develops a “forgiveness formula” based on scriptural principles such as

·         Nehemiah 9:17 –our God is a God of forgiveness.

·         Psalm 86:5 – all who call on the Lord will be forgiven.

·         Matthew 18:22 – forgiveness is to be unlimited.

·         Mark 11:25-26 – forgiveness can be unilateral and unconditional.

·         Luke 17:4 – forgiveness should be granted unendingly.

·         Luke 23:43 – Christ set the example of forgiveness.

·         Colossians 3:13 – I am to forgive as Christ has forgiven me.

The Scripture used to create the “forgiveness formula” confronts her with the immeasurable forgiveness she receives from God.  That forgiveness is to overflow into the lives of those who wrong her.  She focuses on the importance of forgiving others from her heart and the need to work towards reconciliation whenever possible (Matthew 5:23-24).  She acknowledges that it is not God’s plan for her to seek revenge. He reserves that for Himself (Hebrews 10:30); He assists her in refusing to develop a bitter spirit toward those who have wronged her (Hebrews 12:14-16).  Jesus said to His disciples, “Pay attention to yourselves!  If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him”  (Luke 17:3-4).  Since God commands us to forgive others, refusing to do so is an act of direct disobedience against Him.

Equally important to forgiving others is the Multi-tasked Woman’s acknowledgement that at times she will need to seek the forgiveness of those she has wronged.  Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:9-12) demonstrate a common but unbiblical response to sinful behavior . . . blame someone else!  It is her duty to assume personal responsibility for her part in the transgression (James 5:16), seek the Lord’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9), and pursue reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-24) whenever possible.  Phrasing such as, “I was wrong when I (fill in the offense).  Will you forgive me?” allows her to accept personal responsibility without casting blame on the offended person.  Such a response demonstrates her humility and fear of her Lord (Proverbs 8:13).

As this entry draws to a conclusion, may I encourage you to reconsider my opening questions?

·  What thoughts fill your mind when the word forgiveness is spoken? 

·  Emotionally is your heart at peace?

·  Can you say with confidence there is no one that you need to forgive or who needs to forgive you? 

·  Did you experience that nudge from the Holy Spirit that reminds you of an unresolved situation? 

If your answers indicate that something is amiss in any relationship, may I encourage you to do your part in reconciliation?  Choosing to do so may exempt you from the devastating effects that failing to forgive renders.