Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Mark 2:6-7 (ESV)
Lord Jesus my heart is struck this morning by the fact that You have challenged me to forgive (Ephesians 4:32). I have always viewed this as just a command to give to others what I have received from You (Matthew 6:12-14). Yet, today as I read this verse, something struck me when the scribes asked, “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” It dawned on me, I can! I’m not talking about the pardon that only You can provide that saves a soul from eternal separation from You. But on my small, human scale, by my forgiving I am not just giving what I have received graciously from You. I am responding to the world like You do! The more I forgive the more I am reflecting You in my living! It is no different than love. I cannot love anyone like You. Yet, when I love I am looking like You! And in some miraculous way beyond my understanding, You have tied Your forgiveness to it (John 20:23)!
Lord, what a blessed gift that You have given me! Through Your Holy Spirit not only can I love like You do, but also forgive like You do. Master, that transforms how I look at forgiving. It is not just an obligation that I enact and bestow on people because I am indebted to You. It is my demonstration to the world of my Christlikeness, that You are in my heart. By it the world will know that I am Your disciple! Even as Your disciples went forth loving and healing the crowds and everyone knew that they were Yours, I shall go out today forgiving all who sin against me like You forgive all who sin against You that all may know that I am Yours. Even as You proclaimed from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34), let those words ring in my heart as I ask you to forgive those who hurt me. In the same way that you showed your love, enable me to show mine through the gift of giving forgiveness. Thank You for empowering me with not only the ability but also the mind to forgive. Keep this truth ever before me and enable me to walk worthy of this great and wonderful honor. Amen.