My chaotic mind does many of it’s acrobatics in the middle of the night.  Random thoughts that come from “nowhere” and play around in my head.  Most of the time I can’t recall the episodes of  “hmmmmm….”, only remember that they happened with little or nothing to show for it.  But last night I had a thought that lingered ’til this morning…

Forgiveness.  We have a concept of what we think it is, of how we practice it.  We put our own rules to it.  We forgive (sometimes) if someone is really, truly sorry.  We forgive with strings.  It better not ever happen again.  You better appreciate what I’m doing by forgiving you.  After “forgiveness” has happened, we often still want to let the sting of  the offense remain, both in our hearts and the heart of the offender.  We somehow don’t want it to be forgotten.

But what if we are the offender?  Do we still want those same rules applied to us if we are the ones in need of forgiveness?  Do we want the web and tangle of strings and conditions and “forever you will pay” attitude? Do we want the burden of the weight of a debt that will never truly be “repaid”?

When I think about how Jesus forgave, I’m amazed.  The price He paid on the cross was more than enough to cover any offense I have ever committed or ever will commit.  Forgiveness was complete. It was offered before we had our acts together.  Before we even knew we needed forgiveness.  In spite of the fact that we didn’t deserve it and would abuse it over and over.  It was free for us because it was of immense cost to Him.

Many times when Jesus healed people, he also told them that there sins were forgiven.  He knew that their brokenness went beyond their outward infirmity.  Their hearts were also broken with sin.  Do we see that when people offend us?  Do we see beyond just the guilty act and recognize that there is within all of us a brokenness that needs healing and that forgiveness can be a huge part of that healing process?

When Jesus was dying for us, when He was bearing all of our guilt and pain and shame, when quite literally the weight of the world was on him, He offered forgiveness to a man next to him who was also hanging on a cross.  A man who rightfully deserved his punishment.  A broken man in desperate need of a Savior.  And Jesus right then and there forgave him and told him He would see him “in paradise”.  Forgiveness without strings.  The man had no time to change his ways or make up for what he’d done.  But he recognized his need and accepted an amazing gift from the only One who could give it to him.

Forgiveness.  It’s so much bigger and more powerful than we can imagine.  It does so much to help heal a broken soul.  Not only our offenders’, but our own.  In the same way that I experience the daily power of Jesus’ forgiveness in my life, I want to extend that to others.  How can I not?

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.