There are times when the living out of our professed faith becomes real and hits us unexpectedly right where we live. I like to think of these as opportunities to prove the growth God has been working in our lives.
My husband’s employer contracted a professional moving company to deliver our household items to our new location. This contractor then hired a sub-contractor to make up the team of movers it would take to accomplish the job. One of these sub-contracted team members stole money and jewelry from us during the few hours he was in our house.
Indignant? You bet we were. The money was not a large sum – several dollars worth of quarters that I needed to use at the local laundry mat – and the jewelry, while not of high value, had a large sentimental value. The quarters could easily be replaced; the jewelry could not as the family members who had gifted them to us are no longer here.
My husband and I fumed (I did most of the fuming) over this situation and talked about it for the next couple of days. After rooting around in our victim mentality, we found at the bottom of our emotions what really galled us the most about this whole situation. Before these men had ever set foot across the threshold to our home, each had introduced himself to us with a smile and had shaken our hands. Whether or not they entered our home with the intent to steal from us or if this was a crime of opportunity, we do not know. We do know that they were in a position of trust. And they violated it.
As my husband spent time filing reports and paperwork to document this situation, I realized that there was more that needed to be done. There was a very personal element that needed addressed, a private one that only God and my husband need know of at that time.
Matthew 6:15, “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
That verse smacked me in the head not long after this theft occurred. Have you ever had scripture speak to you in the situation you’re currently dealing with? If you have, you will know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, wait, as the day will surely come for you when it does. These are awesome times when scripture seems to talk directly to me, albeit a little painful to acknowledge.
I knew that I had to purposefully and consciously forgive the man who had taken what did not belong to him and for breaking the bond of trust he had represented as a professional entering our home. He had violated both God’s and man’s laws by his actions, yet it was God’s direction that I needed to follow in my actions towards this man, even if he would not know it. I needed to ensure that this victimization didn’t develop into anger, which then would be in danger of taking root in the form of bitterness. Not a good situation at all to be in!
It was after I had intentionally spoken the words of forgiveness over this man in prayer that I felt the release of angst I had felt in the days since the discovery of theft had been made. I could see that the things he had stolen were truly just stuff that wouldn’t count for anything as far as eternity was concerned. It was in the letting go, in the forgiving, that mattered more. Once I truly forgave him, sweet peace descended on my wounded soul and soothed my heart. It also allowed me to see this man in a new light so that I could genuinely pray for him. This act of forgiveness was an example of God’s grace at work. And isn’t this what all of us need?
Before we know that we ever are in need of grace, God has already provided it.
Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
When Christ died for us, He took on the cost of our sin and paid the penalty for us so we would not have to pay that cost ourselves, which we could never do on our own anyway. As a result of Him paying our penalty, we aren’t given what we deserve. This, my friends, is grace.
Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
The young man who stole from us may never know that we’ve already forgiven him. I do pray that he will come to see his need for the Living God to be in residence in his heart and life so that he won’t feel the need to steal any longer.
Each one of us, whether our sins are seen by mankind or solely by God can experience this grace through the acceptance of the work Christ did for us through His death and resurrection. Or perhaps, like us, you need to forgive someone else and place them into God’s hands for the wrong they have done to you. Forgiveness, grace, mercy and peace are yours for the asking. The choice is yours to make. Which will you choose?
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
My husband’s employer contracted a professional moving company to deliver our household items to our new location. This contractor then hired a sub-contractor to make up the team of movers it would take to accomplish the job. One of these sub-contracted team members stole money and jewelry from us during the few hours he was in our house.
Indignant? You bet we were. The money was not a large sum – several dollars worth of quarters that I needed to use at the local laundry mat – and the jewelry, while not of high value, had a large sentimental value. The quarters could easily be replaced; the jewelry could not as the family members who had gifted them to us are no longer here.
My husband and I fumed (I did most of the fuming) over this situation and talked about it for the next couple of days. After rooting around in our victim mentality, we found at the bottom of our emotions what really galled us the most about this whole situation. Before these men had ever set foot across the threshold to our home, each had introduced himself to us with a smile and had shaken our hands. Whether or not they entered our home with the intent to steal from us or if this was a crime of opportunity, we do not know. We do know that they were in a position of trust. And they violated it.
As my husband spent time filing reports and paperwork to document this situation, I realized that there was more that needed to be done. There was a very personal element that needed addressed, a private one that only God and my husband need know of at that time.
Matthew 6:15, “But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
That verse smacked me in the head not long after this theft occurred. Have you ever had scripture speak to you in the situation you’re currently dealing with? If you have, you will know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, wait, as the day will surely come for you when it does. These are awesome times when scripture seems to talk directly to me, albeit a little painful to acknowledge.
I knew that I had to purposefully and consciously forgive the man who had taken what did not belong to him and for breaking the bond of trust he had represented as a professional entering our home. He had violated both God’s and man’s laws by his actions, yet it was God’s direction that I needed to follow in my actions towards this man, even if he would not know it. I needed to ensure that this victimization didn’t develop into anger, which then would be in danger of taking root in the form of bitterness. Not a good situation at all to be in!
It was after I had intentionally spoken the words of forgiveness over this man in prayer that I felt the release of angst I had felt in the days since the discovery of theft had been made. I could see that the things he had stolen were truly just stuff that wouldn’t count for anything as far as eternity was concerned. It was in the letting go, in the forgiving, that mattered more. Once I truly forgave him, sweet peace descended on my wounded soul and soothed my heart. It also allowed me to see this man in a new light so that I could genuinely pray for him. This act of forgiveness was an example of God’s grace at work. And isn’t this what all of us need?
Before we know that we ever are in need of grace, God has already provided it.
Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
When Christ died for us, He took on the cost of our sin and paid the penalty for us so we would not have to pay that cost ourselves, which we could never do on our own anyway. As a result of Him paying our penalty, we aren’t given what we deserve. This, my friends, is grace.
Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.”
The young man who stole from us may never know that we’ve already forgiven him. I do pray that he will come to see his need for the Living God to be in residence in his heart and life so that he won’t feel the need to steal any longer.
Each one of us, whether our sins are seen by mankind or solely by God can experience this grace through the acceptance of the work Christ did for us through His death and resurrection. Or perhaps, like us, you need to forgive someone else and place them into God’s hands for the wrong they have done to you. Forgiveness, grace, mercy and peace are yours for the asking. The choice is yours to make. Which will you choose?
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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