Monday, October 15, 2007

On the forgiver and the forgiven

I enjoy reading this little booklet that our doctor's office carries; Daily Bread. It has these nice little devotionals for every day of the year. I'm blessed generally by what is said, and the scriptures that are noted.
One, though, had a little blurb at the bottom. It said something like, "Jesus came to forgive our sins, but we must accept that forgiveness."

So, I guess if we don't acknowledge Jesus' loving forgiveness, He takes it away. Does this really make sense to you? If I forgive you, YOU must accept my forgiveness for me to forgive? My act of forgiveness is entirely on you? Not me? So, if you don't accept my forgiveness, I never forgave you?

This is preposterous. If I forgive you, you may trot down the country lane all you want saying, "Nah! I DON'T accept your forgiveness, therefore you haven't forgiven me! "

No. If I forgive you, it's a done deal.
HE has forgiven you.
It's done.

14 comments:

Don said...

AMEN! Where"s everybody? I linking you....

Laymond said...

We need to look at forgiveness as a gift, is a gift a gift if it is never recieved. If you send some one a hundred dollars for birthday but it gets lost in the mail, is it really a gift or an attempt.

Laymond said...

We need to look at forgiveness as a gift, if it is never recieved is it really a gift. or just an attempt

karen said...

Yep, Laymond, you're right, it's a gift. Jesus didn't attempt to save us. He did it, He can do it. There is no "almost" with Him.

karen said...

Yes, Laymond, it is still a gift. I actively send you $100 whether you receive it or not. The gift was there.
Since I'm not God, it may not 'get' to you, but it was given just the same.
God is God. . .when He gives something to you, it gets there.

Here's another question. If I give you a gift, and you refuse it, should I send you to a horrible death? :-)

Laymond said...

I have often wondered if he, God is going to condemn one to hell for some action made here. Why did he not send Satan there right away, when he rose up against him.

karen said...

I'm confused (not your fault) about what you're saying, Laymond. Can you expand on this?

karen said...

Are you asking why we have satan at all, when God could have and could dispatch him at any time?

Laymond said...

Yes, if there ever was a time, for such harsh treatment why not then?
Why waite for people who are just ignorant of the facts.

Missy said...

Interesting post, K. Making me think...

(my verification word is berkenstock+bikini="brknini")

karen said...

I think that we're supposed to learn here, and if everything were easy and good, we'd learn nothing.

karen said...

birkini? that sounds uncomfortable!

chaplainroy said...

When I was 6 years old, I was drowning in the Brazos River. I had gone under for the 3rd time. I knew I was dying and there was nothing I could do about it. My earthly father walked out to me (it was not over his head) grabbed me, with no effort on my part and carried me to safety. I'm sure glad he didn't wait for me to accept his salvation. How much more will our heavenly father do even more to save us and the whole world.

karen said...

Amen, Chappy.