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Unconditional Forgiveness
or Y'shua kind of Forgiveness
by Elana Simon
"...and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive
everyone who is indebted to us." (Luke 11:4a)
"Then Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for
they do not know what they do.'" (Luke 23:34a)
What kind of forgiveness is Y'shua (Jesus) speaking of in these
scriptures and what is it called?
When we were taught about forgiveness, many times the parable of
the servant that owed a great debt to the King is used (Matthew
18). Through this we learned to forgive one another at all times.
Which is good and what we should do, but, in the last year G-d has
shown me something that I did not know, and that is, when I forgave
somebody, I had attached conditions to it. Unknowingly, becoming
like the servant who after he was forgiven much, threw his fellow
servant into prison until the debt he was owed was paid in full.
Those conditions became the debt owed to me. How many of us have
done that and not even realized it? Is that the kind of forgiveness
Y'shua was teaching us in Matthew 18 or praying for in Luke 11:4a
and given to us that day on Calvary, Luke 23:34a? No
is was not. In each of these scriptures He is teaching
and giving us Unconditional Forgiveness or Y'shua Kind of Forgiveness.
When explaining this to a friend she had a vision. She saw a blackboard
with writing on it; she picked up an eraser and started to erase
all that was written on it until it was gone. That's the kind of
forgiveness that was given to us and we are to give to others. This
kind of forgivess is an act of our will. It's also not easy to do.
Especially when you have been deeply hurt and feel you've been wronged.
You want G-d to vindicate you by having them come to you, admitting
they were wrong and asking for your forgiveness. That is not always
going to happen or even necessarily what G'd wants.
So what does He want and what are you to do? When you believe in
your heart that you have forgiven them, but you are holding on to
conditions. When He showed me that I had conditions on my forgiveness,
He asked me, as an act of my will, to nail my flesh to the tree
(cross) and unconditionally forgive them as He unconditionally forgave
me, to let go of all my expectations and conditions completely,
wipre the blackboard clean and start fresh. It wasn't easy, but
that is just what I did. I forgave, let it go and started fresh.
Even if I never see any changes in them it's OK, because I know
G-d has changed me and He is being glorified. He has started to
teach me a deeper meaning of forgiveness extended with and covered
by grace, His grace, His forgiveness. The kind of forgiveness that
was given to me and all of us when He shed His blood on Calvary
and said "Father forgive them, for they
do not know what they do" and what we pray for each
time we pray "... and forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us."
So my question to you is this. Have you placed any conditions on
your forgivness to others? If so, as an act of your will, nail your
flesh to the tree, unconditionally forgive them with His forgiveness
extended with and covered by grace and tryly come to know His unconditional
forgiveness for you. |
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