Partners forgive Hurt
| For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew6:14-15) |
These words of Jesus are part of a body of teaching called the Sermon on the Mount. It is a set of teachings on how followers of Jesus should live. These two verses come after the so called Lord's Prayer which include the words "forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who trespass against us". God's forgiveness of us is conditional on us forgiving others.
The Apostle Paul writes these words - "therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph 4:1-3). Humility, gentleness, patience, tolerance, love, unity, peace. These are the ways which we as partners in mission need to live. We have this calling from God, our mission, and in order for this partnership to work we need to live with these virtues forming the substance of all our relationships. Paul ends Chapter 4 (v32) in Ephesians with this simple instruction echoing the teaching of Jesus -- "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you".
The Apostle Peter in his second letter speaks of the virtues of Christian living. He then underpins them saying -- "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." (2 Peter 1:8-9). If we are to be effective and fruitful partners in mission forgiveness has to be part of our relationships. And the place which reminds us of the forgiveness of our sins is The Cross. Kneeling at the foot of The Cross keeps us humble as we recognise that we are forgiven sinners. And the first thing we do as we step out in the shadow of The Cross is to forgive others. We then complete the circle. God forgives us and we then forgive others. There is power in this -- Holy Spirit power. Without this power our mission is doomed to failure and our partnerships with each other in achieving this mission will be broken.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us that you may work powerfully in our lives and so equip us for your mission in this world. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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Reverend Michael Craig is a minister in the Egoli Presbytery appointed to the shared ministry of St Giles, Norwood and St Ninians, Parktown North. His roots are in the rural Eastern Cape. He has three adult children Christie Anne, Ashleigh and Zanda,
| And so that brings us to the end of the Month of Mission. We express grateful thanks to our writers who have served us through their inspirational writing: (All titles omitted) "Amon Kasambala, Richard Mkandawire, Wayne van Heerden, Anna Banda, Edward Chirwa, Lentikile Mashoko, Mthokozisi Hlela, Khanyiswa Mphuthi, Norest Ajapa, Sonye Banda, Allan Paskwababiri, Zwai Mtyhobile, Christel Erasmus, Olivia Mutandare, Chala Habasila, Melanie Cook, Nelson Mokone, Bukela Hans, Biggie Msusa, Judith Mkandawire, Graham Fryer and Mike Craig. We also thank the Mission and Discipleship Committee's Month of Mission Team: Wayne van Heerden, Richard Mkandawire, Matshidiso Piroe, Brian Mazanhi, Stewart Gordon and Theo Groeneveld. Finally, this whole effort is dedicated to the initiator of the Missio Dei, the One who first loved us and then came to rescue us. To Father, Son and Holy Spirit: SOLI DEO GLORIA! |
