Forgiveness
The Greek word for forgiveness is Aphesis.
As a verb aphiemi, meaning, "to send forth, send away" and
denotes, "to remit or forgive".
(ex:) Matt: 9:2 And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. And
Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son,
be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you." (NKJV)
As a noun, aphesis, "a dismissal, release". It is used
of the remission of sins, and translates "forgiveness".
(ex:) Eph:1:7 In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of His grace. (NKJV)
I have been thinking about forgiveness a lot lately. How important it is in my everyday life and how seldom it ever crosses my mind. To me, there are four examples that stand out.
1. The forgiveness at Calvary that I received and take for
granted. Jesus was crucified just outside the city of Jerusalem at a place
called Golgotha (Heb. "The Skull") near the Damascus gate so that I
might be forgiven of my sins, past, present and future. This, the most important
of all forgiveness and the ultimate act of love.
2. Forgiveness of ongoing sin. When I sin, I feel like a put a rift between
Jesus and myself. A departure from the close and personal relationship to Jesus
that I need so much. I pray each day for forgiveness of my sins so that I can
experience His presence in my life. To be close to Jesus is to have peace and a
sense of being loved that I need so much in this hectic and worrisome world.
3. The forgiveness that I must have for and seek from others. The Bible says I
should leave my sacrifice at the alter and seek to make things right with those
I have a grievance with before I come before Him. Sometimes this is a hard thing
for me and I often pray for the strength and wisdom to swallow my pride and
humble myself before those whom I think have wronged me. And to especially seek
the forgiveness of those who, in my sinful human nature, I have wronged.
4. I must forgive myself. This is one aspect of forgiveness that I have a
particularly hard time with. I am so tough on myself sometimes. I think of all
the sinful things I have done in my past and I feel guilt and shame. I find that
I am constantly beating myself up over these things even though I have asked for
and receive forgiveness from my Father who is in heaven. I have to remember that
God forgives me through Jesus and if He forgives me, I should be able to forgive
myself. I also think of Paul, who persecuted and murdered Christians. And
was lifted up and made anew when he accepted our Lord Jesus Christ as his
Savior. This example of forgiveness is one that I try to keep close to my heart,
so that I can go before the Lord with faith and try to love myself as He wants
me to. Not with a battered heart but with joy and thanksgiving.
My prayer this morning
Dear gracious and forgiving Father. Thank you for my salvation. Thank you for
forgiving me, a lowly and humble man, of my sins. Please let me keep these
examples of forgiveness in my heart and mind that I might be a better person and
worthy of the wonderful gifts you bestow upon me. I ask that you allow the
people that I interact with today to see You in me and please let me see You in
them. And thank You for helping me to forgive others and myself, as you have.
I ask these things with faith, in the name of Jesus. Amen