Much appreciated.
BTW, the below has nothing to do with LTOS . . . I'm just piggy backing it onto this reply. PING TO THE END TIMES LIST in case anyone on the list knows someone who'd benefit.
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All:
Here's some ramblings on FORGIVENESS triggered by a comment by a loving prayer warrior I really respect and appreciate. I feel led to post it on this thread that it was triggered from as others may find some benefit as well:
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FORGIVENESS DOC FOR A FREEPER:
FIRST msg about FORGIVENESS:
imho . . .
REGARDLESS of whether the person is alive or dead . . .
1. Forgiveness has nothing to do with accepting bad behavior.
2. It IS obeying God about VENGEANCE IS HIS TURF AND HIS TURF ALONE.
3. It IS obeying God about forgiving that we may be forgiven.
4. It IS obeying God about TRUSTING HIM with the situation and with the other person.
5. We don’t have 100% comprehensive, 100% perfect knowledge, 100% perfect judgment, 100% perfect punishment etc. GOD ALONE QUALIFIES.
6. Forgiveness may still result in consequences for offenses.
7. In my observation, forgiving takes us out of the picture in a way that somehow spiritually frees God up more to deal with the offender more emphatically more directly. When we don’t forgive, somehow we place ourselves in the way of God’s fully dealing with the other person with our bondage to the person and the offense.
8. The Lord’s Prayer about forgiving that we may be forgiven is a REAL VITAL ISSUE with God. He doesn’t take it lightly.
9. Whether we ignore the bad behavior or not, FORGIVENESS IS STILL CALLED FOR. We can also say—I forgive you for XYZ. Nevertheless, I’m going to do all I can to insure that I’m not vulnerable to being on the receiving end of such behavior ever again. It’s not necessary or fitting for me to be so victimized and I’m going to do all I can to insure that never happens again.
10. We are called to love even our enemies.
11. God’s strength and love in our hearts is usually necessary. Yet, they are supposed to be there anyway.
12. Forgiveness is healthier to our physical bodies in a list of ways. IT helps toward our joy etc. as well.
Anyway—my 2 cents.
2ND INSTALLMENT:
Those lessons have come with high tuition.
6. Forgiveness may still result in consequences.
e.g.
A) I forgive you, “O Neighbor Lady,” for all your offenses against me. I forgive you for stealing my inheritance. I forgive you for deceiving me and my step-sisters. I forgive you for stealing the silver dollars. I forgive you for stealing the bola ties. I forgive you for hoodwinking Dad. I release you from any retaliation on my part. I pray for your eternal soul.
A.2) I repent for being so foolish, undiscerning, stupid and ignorant about your relationship with Dad. I had no idea I was unwittingly contributing to such skull duggary on your part with my own Dad, by praising you so much and being so trusting of you.
B) I pray that God would give you a close relationship with Him and all the good things I'd want in your situation.
C) However, I should warn you. IF you will not repent and do as God would have you do in this situation, HE WILL discipline you very severely. You will wish that my siblings and I had tarred and feathered you, instead. His disciplines can reach areas you didn't know you had.
D) And, do not ever imagine that I will ever set up or contribute to or allow any other situation where you would even be able to steal so much as a toothpick from me.
E) Part of me would like to know what sort of demonic motivation possessed you to do such evil things against my Dad who was so kind to you. Whatever rot from hell infected you is deadly poison you seriously need to do all you can to be rid of and free of else you are doomed to eternal misery.
F) Most of me just wants to release you into God's hands and be done with you. I thought you were a kind and helpful lady to my Dad. It turns out you were a miserable thieving, deceiving, greedy, kniving old battle axe. That's pathetic. That's very sad. That's horrific.
G) Nevertheless, I don't choose to dirty my hands trying to deal with you any further. I'm not perfect either and I certainly need as thorough and grand a deliverance and forgiveness of all my sins and flaws as can be--by Christ's Blood, Grace and Spirit. Sooo, I must and will and DO extend the same to you as I would want from Jesus.
H) IF you think that lets you off the hook with God, you will be greatly mistaken. That actually puts you MORE ON THE HOOK WITH GOD. And I know from hard personal experiences that HE IS THE MASTER ORCHESTRATER, CONDUCTOR OF CONSEQUENCES. His orchestrations of consequences can clean the last atomic particle of toe jam out from under your little toe. You will most definitely NOT escape HIS CONSEQUENCES regardless of how you rationalize, run, hide, slip, slide, shuck and jive.
I) I wish you mercy because I'd want mercy and do want mercy for my sins and flaws. I wish for you God's perfect mercy that cleans you out from top to bottom and inside, out. I wish that no rot from hell be left within you or about you. I'd rather see you in Heaven. I wouldn't wish hell on my worst enemy.
J) However, the only route to such deliverance, healing and wholeness is to thoroughly throw yourself on the altar and mercy of God and beg His forgiveness, deliverance, healing, wholeness. HE will not tolerate deception or game playing. It's all or nothing with Him.
K) If you will not do that, O Neighbor Lady, there is no hope for you. If you will not do that, your misery has only begun. If you will not do that, a hundred million times the $12,000+ that you stole would not comfort your misery.
L) I will not go to the police. I will not sue you. I will not place one demand upon you. I forgive you.
M) I release you to God's mercy and/or consequences.
N) The only thing I ever want to hear from you at this point, is confession and repentance. Restitution is between you and The Lord.
O) I hope you get it right with God. Nothing else matters. Your Mormon theology is obviously bankrupt else it would have prevented you from such evil. It will not save you. Only Confession, Repentance and Salvation through Christ's Blood will save you. I hope you get it right.
P) Forgiveness is not cheap. It Cost Christ His all. The least I can do for Him is to forgive you—in His Name and as His flawed follower.
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I don't know that I'll send that to Obdurate Neighbor Lady. I suppose it's possible that I might. I just wrote it as an illustration to elaborate on #6 for you.
Sometimes, consequences for a murderer would still be execution--even though he had thoroughly repented and made things right with God.
If you give me an example or 3 from your situation, your relationship with the offender, I can reply more in the context of your experiences and concerns on such scores.
You see, Dear Heart,
1. None of us is clean enough to NOT DESPERATELY NEED GOD'S MERCY. IF we want mercy, we MUST EXTEND MERCY. There's no choice. NO other choice.
2. GOD REQUIRES HUMILITY. None of us is pure or perfect enough to sit in judgment of anyone else for anything. GOD DECLARES THAT THE HEART IS DECEITFULLY WICKED IN ALL OF US until replaced by the heart of Jesus.
3. Given the right genetics, the right childhood experiences . . . any of us could do any fool evil thing imaginable. THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I. It is REDEMPTIVE humility and wisdom to realize that and walk humbly accordingly.
4. NONE OF US is pure enough to be a truly objective and fair a) detective, b) prosecutor, c) judge, d) jury, e) executioner. GOD ALONE can fittingly fill such roles.
5. NONE OF US can truly bear the judgment of God's justice for our own sins and flaws. The wages of sin for all of us is death--eternal death--apart from the Blood, Mercy, Salvation of the Lord Jesus. It is wisdom, accuracy and reality to humbly realize that and accept it, apply it, operate within that reality as true and settled.
6. ETERNAL FREEDOM IN JESUS COMES THROUGH FORGIVENESS--OF OURSELVES, OF OTHERS . . . EVEN OF GOD FOR NOT MANAGING OUR LIVES ACCORDING TO OUR STUPID NOTIONS. We CANNOT bear the cost of any other attitude or choice(s).
7. UNFORGIVENESS chains us to the wrecking balls of misery of broken relationships, sinful carnal judgment, vengeance, . . . Those are NOT great sleep aids.
8. RELEASING the other person(s) through forgiveness to God's disposition of the matter is health and wholeness--and peace. We don't have to carry around the burning fire and poison of unforgiveness in our inner person, mind, heart, spirit any longer. We can be free--as we free the other person to God's dealings.
9. CHRIST'S PEACE AND REST are infinitely more fulfilling and joy filled than any sick thrill from any kind of vengeance. Vengeance only ties us to an endless cycle of a miserable spiral of horrorific hideousness down to hell.
10. BESIDES, JESUS PAID IT ALL. Yet, we can only fully walk in HIS FORGIVENESS OF US AS WE EXTEND THAT WHICH WE SO DESPERATELY NEED--TO OTHERS--EVEN THE THOROUGHLY GUILTY--as we all are thoroughly guilty before God.
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