on the walk

In our services in preparation for Christmas, we are examining the manifold gifts that are ours in Christ. This week we encountered forgiveness. However I was delightful surprised by the way we encountered forgiveness.

We did not focus on the forgiveness that comes to us in Christ.  At the end of the sermon, strong mention of the forgiveness offered by God through Christ was made, but this was not the main focus.  The main focus was the through Christ was are able to forgive others.  Having heard the sermon this no longer seems surprising to me, but as I reflect on it, I recognize that it is not immediately obvious that forgiving others is a gift to me.

Perhaps vengeance would be a better gift.  Perhaps reclaiming what was taken would be a better response those who have wronged me.  Wouldn’t the perfect gift be the opportunity to extract perfect recompense to all those who owe me.

But this is not what Christ offers.  Instead Christ offers forgiveness for the wrong we have done, and commands that we forgive those who have done wrong to us.

It was this first point of the sermon that struck me as the most powerful.  Vengeance for a wrong done to me, is no gift to me.  Forgiving that wrong is, in a surprising way, a gift of great worth.

I hope to write more on this.  If you question this conclusion, I would encourage you to follow the link above and listen to the sermon.  It might just be the perfect gift.

on the walk

-Ethan