I started reading Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst over a year ago. I don’t think it’s ever taken me this long to finish a book. I’d read it for a little while and put it down, not wanting to go deeper into the subject matter. Probably because it was just too uncomfortable.
Forgiveness is not an easy topic, particularly when the offender is someone close to you, and especially when the offender IS you (yes forgiving yourself is a major challenge for many!)
A few weeks ago, I watched a YouVersion devotional for the Verse of the Day by Hal White, co-author of Spirit Calling: Experience Spirit Led Living. In Hal’s summary of John 1:29, he shared about lambs being required as a sacrifice for God’s chosen people from way back in the Bible times. The shedding of the lamb’s blood covered the sins of the individual or family.
Hal then discussed the Passover, when the Angel of God passed over the homes that had blood over and around their doors, as God had directed the people of Israel. He then said something that gave me brand new insight, and completely reverberated in my heart - the Angel didn’t know anything about the people inside the houses that he passed over. He didn’t know who they were, what they did, how they were living, or if they were “worthy”. He just saw the blood of their sacrifices on the door and passed over their homes, allowing their firstborn sons to live.
Jesus is the sacrificial lamb of God. Because His blood was shed as a sacrifice for us, He now bears our sins. His blood covers everything sin we have ever committed, whether we are worthy or not.
When we accept Jesus’ sacrifice of death on the cross and invite him to live inside of us as our Lord and Savior, when God looks at us, He sees that Jesus’ blood has covered us, just like the blood covered those homes back during Passover.
I can’t remember the last time a devotional stayed with me so long. Knowing that I have been forgiven, even though I'm not worthy, allows me to forgive others more freely – even if they don't apologize, or when I don't feel they deserve it. I must show mercy and compassion to others the same way God has shown to me over and over again.
And this holds true even when I beat myself up about bad choices I’ve made. No matter what I’ve done - I’m forgiven. I’m covered. I’m worthy. And I’m loved.
In the season of Lent, as we approach Easter and reflect on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us, I encourage you to remember His blood whenever you start to judge others or even condemn yourself. As Believers in Christ, Jesus already sacrificed His life so that we could be covered from our sins. Receive this gift of forgiveness and be sure to show grace and offer it to others as well.
What a beautiful way to prepare our hearts and minds for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. We must be careful not to ignore His sacrifice by withholding our forgiveness.
I'm happy to report that I finally finished the book. And forgiveness? I’m definitely working on it…
What’s the hardest thing about forgiving someone or yourself? How does your viewpoint on forgiveness change by knowing the sacrificial blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, has already covered the offense?