2 Peter 1:2
GRACE and PEACE be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Sometimes we may believe vindication by acknowledgement for the injustices we feel have been committed against us will bring us peace, but the reality is that this door to true peace in our hearts does not really exist. We need daily reminders, if not moment to moment, that God has already perfectly acknowledged all injustices against us on the body of Jesus at the cross.
The feelings of being hard-done by, by someone can be so over-powering: ‘…but I’m entitled to now hurt and punish them, because they hurt me and did wrong to me.’ Such feelings always lead to the same place, a place that will only end up requiring grace on our part to be extended, to ourselves and the other person for peace to enter. There is no way around it.
Forgiveness is the only door left to open after walking or storming down the corridor of vindication for emotional injustices. The good news is that freedom in our hearts waits in abundance beyond this door by the key of God’s grace.
It is only an illusion that forgiveness will take something from us when we surrender or sacrifice our position of ‘feeling entitled to be right’. When we receive from God the ability to be able to forgive ourselves and others, through His grace, this illusion turns to a realisation that forgiveness GIVES to us over taking from us.
Romans 5:17
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Feeling overpowered by guilt, by another’s demands or that we may place on others or on ourselves is the opposite of reigning in life. The only way out, the Bible says, is through RECEIVING grace through Jesus Christ.
Someone’s apology to us either said pleadingly for forgiveness OR reluctantly with no true remorse, will never give us the peace we think it will. No matter the context, an apology or acknowledgement can never be a complete payment. Once obtained the apology nor any amount of good they can do for us will cancel the debt owing, it all but lingers waiting for grace to accept it.
Forgiveness is forgiveness and grace is grace where a payment is not possible. The tug and pull of feelings, ‘They don’t deserve to be forgiven’ is really contradictory, as it implies grace is deserved when it only exists in the presence of the undeserving.
Romans 7: 18
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
Being able to completely forgive someone and ourselves cannot be expected to come from our flesh, for the Bible says nothing good dwells in it. Turning away from looking in ourselves scrounging around our hearts and minds for forgiveness and instead looking at Jesus, we’ll find what we’re looking for. God says whatever amount of grace and peace we’ve received thus far, He will multiply it, as we increase in our knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 1:7
In Him [Jesus Christ] we HAVE redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
Sins demand payments left unpaid there is debt on our hearts towards ourselves and others. Seeing Jesus payment for sins on the cross, fulfills the debts weighing on our hearts and minds, it was a complete perfect work that cannot be added to by any work we do. It is a gift that can only be received.
Of anything to be seen and known about Jesus each day, it is that we HAVE already been forgiven of all our sins according to the riches of His grace. May His grace and peace be multiplied to you today in this knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord.