In class we are going through a unit on grace using various testimonies, all while going through the two books, “Grace Awakening” by Charles Swindoll, and “What’s so Amazing about Grace” by Phillip Yancey.
God’s been teaching me a lot about His grace and forgiveness. Before I go into what I’ve been learning about grace and forgiveness, I’ll share a few quotes from Phillip Yancey that really stood out to me.
“The past must be remembered before it can be overcome.” (Phillip Yancey pg. 129)
“’Forgiveness is not just an occasional act: it is a permanent attitude,’ said Martin Luther King Jr.” (Phillip Yancey pg. 137)
“Without forgiveness we cannot free ourselves from the grip of the past.” (Phillip Yancey pg. 120)
“Forgiveness is not the same as pardon…you may forgive one who wronged you and still insist on a just punishment for that wrong. If you can bring yourself to the point of forgiveness…you will release its healing power both in you and in the person who wronged you.” (pg. 103 Phillip Yancey)
In my past, I’ve had a few people that have made my life kinda difficult. No matter how difficult that may be however, I had always forgiven them. I had the mind set, “love the sinner, hate the sin”, which is good, but I missed something in that lesson. I left out the part where I let that person know that I have indeed forgiven them. Not that I’ve pardoned their wrong-doing, but that I am not going to hold it against them ever. Who am I that I wouldn’t forgive someone, after God has forgiven me of so much?
That being said, God has grown me tremendously in my heart to forgive people. I’m happy to say that I’m at the point where I want to hug all those that have hurt me, and tell them, “It’s okay. I forgive you, and love you, and so does God.” And boy is that a liberating feeling to not be chained to the past any longer! Praise God! His grace is sufficient!
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