FOCUS:  Forgiveness and freedom.

THE POINT:  Forgiveness breaks the chains of bitterness and regret that can keep you from being happy and realizing your potential.

THE TRUTH:

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people - free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! - Ephesians 1:7, The Message

I remember like it was yesterday; I was finally on my own!  I had my own place...well, sort of.  Okay, I had my own college dormitory, but there was nobody to tell me what time to be home, nobody to tell me what time to wake up, nobody to tell me to mow the grass or to clean my  room.  Total freedom.  The first night in my castle of freedom I got out of bed at 2AM and drove less than a mile down the 7-Eleven and bought a hot dog and a big gulp, just because I could!  Many of you are dreaming of that day when you are out from under your parents’ authority and have the freedom to do what you want, when you want.  Right now, however, you may not be able to live the way you want.  You probably still have to ask permission, to follow orders, to call when you are going to be late and do many other things that your parents or guardians require.  Even though you know that their rules and demands are not unreasonable, there is still something inside you that may feel trapped.

One of the themes that Jesus and His followers often discussed is the idea of freedom.  Jesus speaks of freedom as something that we all want, and that only He can offer.  One aspect of freedom is the freedom from destructive behavior and its consequences.  Think about this in the context of forgiveness and bitterness.  I’ve known (and I bet you know) people who are holding a grudge.  People who have been wronged (or maybe perceive that they have been wronged) and won’t let go.  They live life under a dark cloud of resentment that keeps them from experiencing true happiness and prevents them from having the kind of life they want.  They don’t smile very often, and their conversation always seems to turn negative.  They are not free.  These people want to be happy and have a great life, but they can’t.  They are full of resentment because they can’t or won’t forgive.  God can set us free from this by giving us the ability and the courage to confront our bitterness and lovingly set aside our grudges. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Take a moment to meditate on your life.  Are there grudges or seeds of bitterness and unforgiveness in your life that you need to deal with?  How do you think these might affect you?

What has God done to demonstrate that He is all about forgiveness?  What does this say about His character and his ability to help you forgive?