Some have asked me to publish the homework from this past week. All about forgiveness, so there is no easy homework to select. All about forgiveness, so selecting all would be the best choice. But try one or more of these, if you would.:
First: Make up your mind this week to look for opportunities to offer forgiveness, especially when you ordinarily would not. Forgive the one who cuts you off in traffic, forgive the one who puts themselves ahead of you, at whatever you are doing. Replace the curse you might shout with a quiet, “I forgive you”, even if no one else is there to hear it. Our sins are healed, because Jesus offers us forgiveness. We should do the same.
Second: Seek out the one in your family or circle of friends who has wronged you recently. Tell them they are forgiven, even if they do not know they have wronged you. They may have forgotten the cross word, the callous insult, the perceived slight. Forgiveness is to free you, not so much for them. Our sins are healed, because Jesus offers us forgiveness. We should do the same.
Third: Now, for the difficult homework. Find the one you know you have hurt, and ask them to forgive you. They may, they may not. But it is our seeking forgiveness that brings about the attitude God seeks in us. A repentant heart leads us to where God touches our hearts each day. Our sins are healed, because Jesus offers us forgiveness. We should do the same.
Forgiveness is not easy, but Jesus forgives us because we are loved, not because we deserve it. If you wait until you or the other deserve to be forgiven, it will never happen. God Bless you all.