FORGIVEN

The Sermon this past Sunday was on FORGIVEN, PRAYER and GIVE, three things this preacher thought were the most important things in our lives.

As is usual, I critiqued the sermon and ‘Forgiven’ brought to mind so much more than what was said.

We read in the scriptures that we ‘all sin and fall short of the glory of God.’
Accepting yourself , I think, with all the good and the bad that make up your character, comes only after you realize God has accepted you - just as you are. Then and only then can you forgive yourself for all the wrong things that you do because you know that God has already forgiven you.

But, God does want to hear our confession and request for forgiveness. It is hard for us to admit when we are wrong, not only with our relationship with God, but with one another. Yet, if God so freely forgives us, then we surely should forgive each other.

That requires an apology. All of us make mistakes. When we do things that hurt other people, our behavior or our words become a barrier between us. If we don’t apologize, the relationship is fractured.

This is a story about Leonardo da vinci who was a gifted artist. It is said that just before he began his painting of The Last Supper, he had a quarrel with a fellow artist. Leonardo felt so bitter toward his rival that he determined to paint the face of his enemy as the face of Judas. In that way he would take revenge on the man. By picturing him as the betrayer of Jesus, he would make his face the object of scorn to all who viewed the painting.

The face of Judas was one of the first that da Vinci finished, and everyone could easily recognize it as the face of the painter with whom he had quarreled. But when Leonardo began to paint the face of Jesus, he could make no progress. Something seemed to be hindering his best efforts. According to the story, he finally came to the conclusion that the frustration he was experiencing was due to his continuing hatred of his enemy. Leonardo immediately painted out the face of Judas and began again on the face of Christ, this time with the success that the ages have come to acclaim.

As long as we hold on to anger and hatred in our hearts, the Holy Spirit cannot bring Christ into our lives. God wants to forgive us. But he forgives our sins only if we confess. This pattern also applies in human relationships.

We’re not perfect, but we try
We’re doing the best that we can.
We’ll always say that we are sorry,
We know that you’ll understand.

So lets accept ourselves and each other
Without guilt or scolding or fear.
All that is past has been forgiven
When God made it all disappear