Sometimes it's hard to believe sometimes that the love of God is available to everyone. It's easy to love friends, those who love us back, show us hospitality and are there for us. It's harder to love those who do things that hurt us, and even mame us.
David Holthouse shared a story about how he was raped at 7 by a football playing neighbor who was the child of his parent's friends. He held the secret until he was 33 years old, and then plotted to kill his attacker. Miraculously, before he executed the plan, his mother read his diary entry that revealed David's secret, and confirmed it was true. The lack of motive David was relying on to cover up his crime, was gone, and he cancelled his plot to kill his attacker and confronted him instead.
In a way that only he could describe, he confronted his attacker, and released his 25 year burden of anger. In his account of the encounter, at the point where he describes his rage towards his attacker turning to sympathy, he cites Romans 12:19:
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
At the end of his account he describes the response to his story after it was published in the Westword, the paper David used to work for. Many survivors of abuse wrote him afterward, thanking him for sharing his story, and especially sharing his account of forgiveness.
The original story is here, on This American Life:
Unfortunately, there are far too many people that can relate to David's story. They are walking around wounded, or worse continuing the cycle of abuse. However, David story shows us two things: 1) There is power and healing in bringing even the most painful secrets to the light (Luke 12:3); and 2) there is power in reserving vengeance for God.
The one who is our model for forgiveness even goes further to say:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20
It takes the Spirit of God to forgive, love and serve your enemies. However, this should ultimately reveal the extent of God's love for us. If we are honest, we have much to be forgiven for ourselves. When we have that realization, we have the opportunity to increase our love for God, because we understand his forgiveness toward us is even greater than that of David's forgiveness towards his attacker.
Just like the woman with the alabaster box, who poured expensive oil on Jesus' feet in an expression of gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins (Luke 7:36-50) we should have an outpouring of thanksgiving, praise and forgiveness in response to God's amazing grace.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47
Implied, is whoever has been forgiven much, loves much. Lord, let our response to your lavish forgiveness be one of extravagant love. Let that love help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us- in sincerity and completeness. Amen.
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| David Holthouse 7. Source: Westword Blog |
In a way that only he could describe, he confronted his attacker, and released his 25 year burden of anger. In his account of the encounter, at the point where he describes his rage towards his attacker turning to sympathy, he cites Romans 12:19:
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
At the end of his account he describes the response to his story after it was published in the Westword, the paper David used to work for. Many survivors of abuse wrote him afterward, thanking him for sharing his story, and especially sharing his account of forgiveness.
The original story is here, on This American Life:
Unfortunately, there are far too many people that can relate to David's story. They are walking around wounded, or worse continuing the cycle of abuse. However, David story shows us two things: 1) There is power and healing in bringing even the most painful secrets to the light (Luke 12:3); and 2) there is power in reserving vengeance for God.
The one who is our model for forgiveness even goes further to say:
If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:20
It takes the Spirit of God to forgive, love and serve your enemies. However, this should ultimately reveal the extent of God's love for us. If we are honest, we have much to be forgiven for ourselves. When we have that realization, we have the opportunity to increase our love for God, because we understand his forgiveness toward us is even greater than that of David's forgiveness towards his attacker.
Just like the woman with the alabaster box, who poured expensive oil on Jesus' feet in an expression of gratitude for the forgiveness of her sins (Luke 7:36-50) we should have an outpouring of thanksgiving, praise and forgiveness in response to God's amazing grace.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. Luke 7:47
Implied, is whoever has been forgiven much, loves much. Lord, let our response to your lavish forgiveness be one of extravagant love. Let that love help us to forgive others as you have forgiven us- in sincerity and completeness. Amen.
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