DAY – 38
YAHWEH HESED
GOD OF FORGIVENESS
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. " (Luke 6:37)
Before we get into today's topic, let me emphasize that Our Almighty God is not just God, but a ruler above all rulers; He is the King of Kings, His Kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and power, authority, and dominion belong solely to Him. God sits on His throne as a just and fair Judge. The Psalmist sings in (Ps 89:14), "Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of God's throne." He knows what is right, He sees what is right, He does what is right, and His judgments are always just. His decisions are all oracles, and none are ever overturned.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, distinguishes between two types of people. The first category consists of legalistic people who are ardent followers of heart but have completely lost their hearts behind the Law, whereas the second category consists of people who are living and yearning for God's mercy. He insisted that obeying the Law isn't about doing or not doing certain things. The Law was given as a means of obeying God. It leads us to God by transforming us from a sinful nature to a pure and holy person. Understanding their hatred, enmity, pride, and other laziness, He said, "Do not judge, for you will be judged." Don't condemn, because you'll be condemned as well. However, if you forgive, you will be forgiven.
1. Don't judge, because you will be judged.
To begin, we must define what it means to judge others. It is nothing more than separating, picking out, or selecting. According to the Bible, "man sees the outward appearance, but God looks into the hearts." He knows a person's deepest thoughts even before he/she comes to Him. He is the only one who can discern the righteousness or wickedness of a human heart. However, many times, we have a tendency to comment or criticize based solely on the behavioral pattern, rather than the hidden or real emotion. We make a mistake by converting a righteous person into a wicked person and vice versa. Look at this elderly gentleman. Eli, Eli, was a Priest in the House of the Lord. The couple, Elkanah and Hannah, went to the Temple to offer sacrifice to the Lord. Hannah carried grief with her on the journey because she had been mistreated by her rival – Elkanah’s other wife - for being barren. She had planned to express her grief in this holy place. Elkanah adored Hannah, but he didn't seem to understand the depth of his wife's grief. He saw her tears and refusal to eat, but he didn't seem to understand the weight of barrenness.
Hannah stood up after everyone had finished eating and drinking. Eli the Priest was now sitting on the threshold of the Lord's tabernacle. Hannah entered the presence of the Lord and began her prayer by addressing the Lord of Hosts. There was no sound, no utterance, just the groaning of Hannah's spirit as she prayed desperately to Her faithful God. As she was in excruciating pain, she communicated with God through prayer and tears. She had a private conversation with God about her desire for a child. Now Eli, who was watching Hannah, misunderstood the woman who was weeping. He mistook her for drunk. Eli made a decision and gave instructions. He was demonstrating his moral authority. And Eli told her, "How long will you be inebriated? Take your wine and put it away." Hannah, how hard did those words hit you? While no one understood her, the spiritual leader of the time did not either. We often pass judgment on others without knowing what they are going through. Heartbroken people frequently hide their pain behind a smile. Making a snide remark will break them even more. We, as imitators, must learn to see others as Christ sees them.
Consider Hannah's words when Eli accused her of being drunk: "Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation." (1 Samuel 1:16) Hannah chose to respond with proper respect rather than simply mouthing back at him, because it was Eli who was at fault, regardless of age. Eli immediately realized his error after listening to her. He then assured her that God intended to grant her a wish for a son.
2. Don't condemn, because you will be condemned.
Let us turn our thoughts to the Lord Jesus Christ's time. While the Lord Jesus was preaching, a crowd rushed towards Him. The scribes and Pharisees bring a woman who has been caught in the act of adultery before him. They seek Jesus' opinion on the matter, citing Mosaic Law, which calls for the stoning of the woman.
Jesus says nothing at first, preferring to write on the ground with his finger. But, when the scribes and Pharisees press him for an answer, Jesus famously says, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her," before returning to his writing on the ground. One by one, the woman's accusers depart, leaving only the woman and Jesus. Jesus inquires as to where everyone has gone. When she responds that no one is left to condemn her, Jesus indicates that he, too, does not condemn her, and then says, "Go, and do not sin any longer." Many people condemned Apostle Paul for his past life while he was preaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.
They refused to accept Paul, who had previously been known as Saul. Their gaze was drawn to the former Saul and they failed to notice the new Paul. They continued to charge him "Are you not the one who assassinated Lord Jesus' servants? Aren't you the one who caused havoc among the brethren? Are you not the one who despised the name, Jesus Christ?" While they were accusing Paul, he boldly declared, "Who will bring a charge against God's chosen people? Who is the one who judges? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, no, who was raised, who sits at God's right hand and also intercedes for us." (Romans 8:34–35) Yes, it was God who died for our sins and washed away all of our iniquities. Other than through the Lord Jesus Christ, no one is considered righteous before God. As a result, my friends never dismiss or judge people based solely on their outward appearance and behaviors. Never abuse or accuse others based solely on their past. In less than a minute, God can transform any dreadful sinner. He touches people's hearts and draws them back to Him because He alone is aware of their deepest thoughts.
3. IF YOU FORGIVE, YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN.
"...Forgiving others as God in Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32)
I'm sure that at some point in our lives, we've all been injured or hurt by others, sometimes physically, but more often than not through disgraceful words. And many times, people would have broken us on purpose. When we hear the word "forgiveness," we immediately recall certain heartaches, hurts, and problems from our past. We've been deeply hurt, so the memories are still vivid. We find it difficult to forgive the perpetrators because of how deeply we have been hurt. However, the Bible gives us one very important reason why we must forgive. Because God forgave us, we forgive others.
It takes tremendous strength and courage to cultivate this wonderful quality known as forgiveness. Forgiving others brings God's happiness to us, and we feel His peace in us by letting go of the heavy baggage we've been carrying this far. Most importantly, we can forgive only when we believe our Heavenly Father has forgiven us for our sins through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Following the Savior's response to Peter, a parable about the importance of forgiveness was told.
"Then Peter approached him and said, Lord, how many times shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?" up to seven times? I say not to thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven says, Jesus. As a result, the kingdom of heaven is compared to a certain king who would account for his servants.
When he began to count, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
But because he couldn't pay, his lord ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, children, and everything else he owned, and that payment be made. As a result, the servant fell to his knees and worshipped him, saying, "Lord, be patient with me, and I will pay thee all." The servant's lord was moved with compassion, and he released him and forgave his debt. But the same servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred pence, and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that which thou owe. And his fellow servant fell at his feet and pleaded with him, saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." And he refused, so he went and imprisoned him until he paid the debt. So, when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very sorry and came and told their lord everything that had happened.
After calling him, his lord said to him, "O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt because thou desire me: Should not thou also have had compassion on thy fellow servant, as I pitied thee?" And his lord was enraged, and he delivered him to the tormentors until he paid all that was due to him. So will my heavenly Father treat you if you do not forgive every one his brother his trespasses from the bottom of your hearts?" (Matthew 18: 21–35)
Those who wish to call themselves disciples of the Master must understand that, like the first servant, we owe our Heavenly King a great debt for the many gifts and blessings we have received from Him. This understanding opens the door to the gifts of repentance and forgiveness for ourselves. The preservation of these gifts is contingent on our faithful forgiveness of those who have wronged us. God bless you with the strength to be like Him and for Him. Amen!!
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