Blanchard, Hodges and Hendry identify the habit of forgiveness as another example of Jesus’ DOING leadership in “Lead Like Jesus.”
Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV): For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Forgiving is NOT a natural human response to being hurt or disappointed. Forgiving requires God’s intervention in our hearts as we surrender our selves, our plans, our wills, our lives in obedience to God. Our surrender to God opens the pathway to extend forgiveness.
As I pondered this topic, I reviewed the examples of Jesus extending forgiveness. The most unbelievable examples of Jesus’ forgiveness landed in Holy Week with His response to Judas’ betrayal and those people that participated in His death on the cross. Sit with these examples in these days of our 2025 Holy Week.
Our humanness rationalizes around forgiveness. Our sinful, jealous selves prefer to judge others and even potentially condemn them. Let’s NOT go there.
Romans 14:13 (The Message): Forget about deciding what’s right for each other. Here’s what you need to be concerned about: that you don’t get in the way of someone else, making life more difficult than it already is.
Blanchard, Hodges and Hendry offer up these reflection insights …
In the game of hockey, when players violate the rules, they spend a specific amount of time in the penalty box before they return to the game. Against that backdrop, spend a few minutes now and ask God to reveal to you the answers to these questions: Have you put someone in your penalty box? How long has he or she been there? Is the time limit up? Are you still defining your life by how you have been hurt? If so, why? Are you in your own penalty box? Is the time limit up on the guilt you have felt? Why or why not?
Obeying God and expressing His love allows us to step out of the penalty box and forgive ourselves and others.
