It’s ok….I forgive you
Philemon 1:15-19 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave–a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay–not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.
Onesimus was a slave that had probably stolen something and ran away from his master. He had run straight into the Apostle Paul, and Paul had led him to Christ. They agreed and understood that Onesimus must return to His master to plea for forgiveness, but under Roman law this could have led to his death. Paul wrote Philemon to plea for his forgiveness and offer to pay for his debt, although he had done nothing to warranty that responsibility. These scriptures are a great analogy of what Christ has done for us. Christ has said of our sins to “put that on my account.”
Forgiveness is always difficult, and the greater the sin against us, the greater the strain of forgiving that sin. We all have been down that painful path most likely. The sin in our lives prompts us to take a prideful stand against a humble heart against forgiveness. Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. A summary of those scriptures is simply we are forgiven to the amount we forgive. Very tough words in a society filled with selfishness and sin against others. I have pled for forgiveness for those I have sinned against, and those that have sinned against me. God sheds light on these things through the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
There is a liberation that comes with forgiveness, and a cleansing of the heart. We have all heard of carrying that weight of anger and pain, and how “it is gonna eat you up.”. That weight will drag you down, but the freedom of the release of it will lift you up. Peter had come to Christ asking at what point do we stop forgiving those who sin against us. Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Christ simply states that you do not stop forgiving. We may wish ourselves to live a sin free life, but we cannot, and fail daily. We live in His forgiveness every day and must seek to duplicate that ourselves in regards to others. The freedom of forgiveness is one a Christian possesses, and must seek to share daily.
oneminuteministry 