Our battle scars run deep, but God’s grace is enough. Jesus’ scars cover all. Forgiveness has a direct correlation with freedom. We cannot stay in our pain, in offense of those who hurt us. That is right where Satan wants to keep us, so we don’t experience the freedom that comes with forgiveness. If we take it to Jesus, He will redeem it.
With tender mercies and heartfelt tears, our Heavenly Father always hears.
We read in 2 Cor. 9-10 that Paul had a thorn in his side that he asked God to remove, but God said, “My grace is sufficient.” We know we live in a fallen world and sometimes there are hard things to deal with, sickness, hurtful people, abuse, and many other painful experiences. God does not always remove those things from this life, but He promises to be with us (Matt. 28:20, ESV). Just like Paul, in our weakness, we are strong when we lean on God to see us through. We don’t know what Paul’s affliction was, probably a physical ailment, but when God says His grace is sufficient, the ESV Study Bible notes that this underscores the ever-present availability and sufficiency of God’s grace, for Paul and every believer, regardless of how critical one’s circumstances may be.
God’s righteousness demands wrath against sin, but in His love for us, he also sent the answer for our sins (Rom. 8:31-39, ESV). He is both just and the justifier, through Jesus Christ. Jesus forgave His accusers while He was still on the cross (Luke 23:34). I am doing a Bible plan right now that talks about Jesus being the Forgiving Victim. As we see others through His eyes and realize what He went through for us; how He forgave us; how can we not forgive others so we can walk in that freedom. Our battle cry is Jesus Christ. We are no longer a victim, but a victor.
“With liberty and justice for all.” Those are not just words or an inscription on a plague. They mean something, or they did at one time. Francis Bellamy wrote this in 1892. President Eisenhower had “under God” added in 1954 in response to the Communist threat.[1] The Statue of Liberty meant something as well. In her right hand, she holds a torch that is a light showing the path to freedom. In her left hand, she holds the Declaration of Independence, for hopeful immigrants arriving at Ellis Island. It was a peacemaking landmark symbolizing the relationship between the US and France and her illuminated torch was a navigational aid.[2]
Let us not forget who the enemy is so we will stop fighting each other. The enemy is Satan, and he uses our victimized state to pit us against each other instead of teaming up to fight against him through the saving grace of Jesus, so we can be indivisible, as the allegiance goes on to read.
You may have heard of doubting Thomas. He was not there with the other disciples when Jesus returned from the dead. So, he had doubts. He wanted to see Jesus for himself before he would believe. Jesus allowed him to trace the scars in His hands, to thrust his hand into His side and feel that the scars were real. Jesus went on to say, “Blessed are those who have not seen but have believed” (John 20:27-29, ESV, emphasis mine).
Jesus offers ultimate freedom and forgiveness.
Will you believe it?
Have you experienced the freedom Christ offers? Feel free to share in the comments.
Do you need to forgive someone so you can?
Ask God to reveal them to you and then ask Him to help you forgive.
Sometimes we must forgive our oppressors multiple times, but it is a choice we can make every day; choose to forgive and then don’t forget to thank God for His forgiveness of us.
Maybe that someone is yourself or someone who hurt you, but either way, forgiveness is the key to healing and redemption. God is the only One who can fill the gaps of hurt, loneliness, pain, illness, loss, and anything you are searching for other than Him to stop the pain of our past or even what we are going through in the present. Do not allow Satan to use your offenses against you. Christ paid the price for our freedom, let us walk in that freedom and live like we are free.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28, ESV, emphasis mine).
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, ESV, emphasis mine).
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Cor. 3:17, ESV, emphasis mine).
[1] The Pledge of Allegiance, USHistory.org. https://www.ushistory.org/documents/pledge.htm
[2] Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopedia. “Statue of Liberty.” Encyclopedia Britannica, September 17, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Statue-of-Liberty.
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