The Command and the Power

April 15

The more a man knows, the more he forgives. Catherine the Great of Russia

It isn't just those who exercise great power in the world who have the insight into the lives and hearts of others or the power necessary to forgive. All of us do.

It is a God-given ability, the light of truth within each of us that allows us to probe the intent of those around us, to weigh what they say and do with what they feel and think; it is the light of truth within each of us that allows us to prove our own hearts. And with that kind of insight, comes the necessity to employ forgiveness on a large scale.

When we look into others, the heart of who they are is revealed. Sometimes we see the true motive that underlies an action; sometimes we see the intent of a word that has been spoken to mislead. When we look with the Lord’s eyes (Hebrews 4:12, 13) into our own heart, the thoughts and intents of our own spirits are revealed to us.

When we see our 'self,' we realize, we too, are motivated by the hope of gaining a stronger vantage point from which to attain our goals. We, and all of humankind apart from Christ, live life from a selfish perspective that brings us to actions intended for our selfish gain. But when we have allowed the candle of the Holy Spirit to reveal the un-godly bent of our focus, “The spirit of man becomes the candle of the Lord, revealing the intents of the heart,” Proverbs 20:27.

This insight brings us to the point where we can see that we must forgive others and we forgive ourselves for not only our manipulation of circumstances to our own advantage but for the times we have failed, for the times our actions have favorably served neither our 'self' nor those around us. We can do that because we know JESUS has seen our hearts and HE has forgiven—and HE HAS GIVEN US THE COMMAND, AND THE POWER, TO FORGIVE.

JESUS, who from the cross said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do," Luke, 23:34, desires that we not only love those around us but forgive them. As He loves the unlovely, so must we—even when the unlovely one we love is our self. When we allow Him full residence and complete reign in our hearts, which HE says are, “deceptive above all things,” Jeremiah 17:9, we know that from these fonts of distortion and self-delusion may flow the most honorable and good of ends! When we have received His forgiveness and have forgiven ourselves, we become instruments in His loving hand from which His forgiveness and His loving heart may be expressed.