Lenten Devotion - Forgiveness
by Ronda Sturgill on March 17, 2025
So, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, least your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison (Matthew 5:23-25).
As we continue our journey to the cross, we are again invited into God’s presence for a period of sacrifice and self-reflection. In the verses above, Jesus isn’t merely giving His disciples a friendly suggestion; He is giving them a command. As we approach Jesus' coming death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, can we follow Jesus’ example and forgive others who have sinned against us, no matter the cost?
Whether we ask for or extend it, forgiveness is integral to our high calling as Christ followers. Yet, humanly speaking, this is one of the hardest commands to follow. It requires humility and grace few of us have within our own strength. Can we really forgive those who have wounded us deeply and left us with scars that have impacted our relationships for most of our lives? And yet, holding onto the anger, hurt, and bitterness keeps us locked up in an invisible spiritual prison that resides deep in our hearts, unknown to our conscious mind.
Subconscious emotions buried deep in my soul came bubbling up one day, very unexpectedly, after being shamed by a priest for not sharing the same biblical interpretation of a particular Bible passage. Lying in bed a few days later, I suddenly started crying uncontrollably as I consciously began to make the connection: my priest treated me in the same manner as my father when I was a child.
The emotional and verbal shaming I experienced from my father fifty years ago began to manifest itself in my early sixties. After a few therapy sessions, I realized what I had to do so I didn’t remain a hostage to my father and his abusive behavior for the rest of my life: I had to forgive him. My dad passed away seven years before this incident, so forgiving him in person was not an option.
Instead, I wrote him a letter I still have tucked away in one of my dresser drawers. I thanked him for all the good things he did (and there were many) and forgave him for the things he did for so long that left me feeling devalued and wounded. After penning my forgiveness, I felt as though a weight I had unknowingly carried into my adult life had suddenly lifted. Whatever time I have left on this earth, I want to live in the freedom Jesus offers through His grace and forgiveness.
Forgiveness is foundational to the freedom Jesus died to give us. Without it, we remain stuck in a perpetual state of victimhood that affects every aspect of our lives; how we view the world, as well as how we relate to those around us. During this time of Lent, is there anyone you need to forgive or ask for forgiveness? If you simply cannot bring yourself to forgive whoever has hurt you, perhaps you can start by praying for them. You’ll be amazed at how praying for this person can prepare your heart to take the next step of forgiveness.