If I say, “Yes, I forgive, but I cannot forget,”
as though the God, who twice a day washes all the
sands on all the shores of all the world,
could not wash such memories from my mind,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.
Unforgiven. The ancient pain. The sages tell us that after the fall, Adam took a 120 year walk-a-bout from Eve. God had to bring him back to her. If that is true, how well that speaks to relationships today. Can we say we have truly “forgiven”, when we refuse to forget the trespass? As we replay over and over the hurtful scenarios we find that we never leave the place of offense and this more often than not is what causes us to break community and suffer the first great pain, that of being alone. Isolated and hurting the God of all compassion comes to us and desires to wash us, with the water of his Word, as he washes the sands of the shore. There is no memory, no pain, no fear so great that He can not deliver us from the sting of it. Like the memory of childbirth is faded in the heart of the mother with the joy of the child in her arms, so the labor to stay in community and relationship is forgotten when the sweet one accord of fellowship reigns in our midst. How sweet it is when the brethren dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1.
Gal 6:1-2 Brethren, even if a man be overtaken in any trespass, ye who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
It is the mark of one who has become “spiritual” when the fruit of their life is restoration, and not destruction.
Oh Lord, make me a spirit-filled one. Cause my heart to run to you when the pain of wounding words, and hurtful deeds threaten to keep me from possessing my birthright. Wash my mind, and my heart with your Word. Remind me who I am in you, and who I am in this world. Help me to forgive, as I have been forgiven and know again the power of Calvary Love.
