No Buts

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” Luke 17:5

We all love to see justice done. It's satisfying to see in movies the unjust receiving their fitting recompense. It is inherent within us to want to see due process dispensed. But we hate it when grace enters the picture. It's dirt cheap. It isn't right. It isn't fair.

Jesus spoke many times about forgiving. He told His disciples if someone sins against you seven times in the day and comes back seven times in the day and says “I repent”, you must forgive him (Luke 17:4). He didn't say “It's OK to feel offended and nurse bitterness until our offender meets our requirement for justice. You must forgive every time.

The disciples were stunned at this saying. Their first response was “Lord, increase our faith!” and rightly so, for only through the help of His Holy Spirt can we do it. Some might think Jesus didn't specifically say it was a command so we can skate this one. How can any direction Jesus Christ gives not be considered a command? When He told of His coming death on the cross, Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him saying “Not so, Lord!” (Matthew 16:22 KJV). How could he say “Not so Lord” if He is Lord? When the King speaks, His subjects obey. There are no 'buts' in forgiveness.

There is no biblical prohibition that it's OK to “feel that way”, but there is no verse anywhere in the Bible that tells us to do that. We can, and should, work through our hurts and offenses. Our heavenly Father wants us to. However, the greatest risk in 'feeling that way' is laying bitterness right next to that throbbing wound, pushing any hope of grace and forgiveness out of the picture. Forgiveness salves any wounds. How serious is it to forgive? Jesus said if we do not forgive the sins of others God will not forgive us ours (Matthew 6:14-15).

If someone sins against you seven times in a day and comes to you seven times in that day and says “I repent”, will you hesitate to forgive? Or will you say “Lord Jesus, increase my faith!”? The answer leaves no wiggle room. As much as we love laying blame and the penalty on those who have hurt us, Jesus says to forgive. In this He left us only one answer and one way, and it is grace and forgiveness. When it comes to forgiving another, grace trumps Justice every time.

Ken