3 Ways you can experience true FREEDOM
By Brandon Jubar
"It's not my fault."
It could be the motto of millions of people these days -- young and old
alike. Everywhere we look there are examples of people not taking responsibility
for their actions -- or inaction.
A high school girl's grades plummet and her parents blame the school,
while the school blames the parents. Or, more seriously: A young man who
was raised by foster parents kills several coworkers and the media blames
"the system," while the government blames the media.
Parents, society, the government, rock and roll, the media -- all are
used as excuses to explain the wrongful acts of individuals. Sometimes
they are even used to justify the sins.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to thy steadfast love;
according to thy abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.
(Psalm 51:1)
It takes a big person to admit that he or she is wrong. Yet that is one of the basic steps in living a Christian life. In order to be forgiven of our sins, it certainly helps if we recognize and accept them!
The Freedom of Taking Responsibility
It
is ironic that in modern society, this idea of placing the blame on everyone
else does not free us from anything. If I fail a test and then blame my
teacher for not doing an adequate job, does that get rid of the shame
I feel inside? Not when I know that I did not read and study the way I
should have. And when I do this with more serious sins -- keeping everything
locked up inside, denying it's there -- how can I be forgiven? If I deny
my sins, I cannot repent.
On the flip side of repentance is forgiveness, which is also something
we are called to do. As Christians, we should not hold grudges and make
people pay long after they have asked to be forgiven. We must strive to
be merciful towards others, which is also not an easy task. It takes a
big person to forgive someone who has committed a wrong, but that forgiveness
can come back to us multiplied.
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.
(Luke 7:47)
When you look at the lives of some of our great saints, you'll find that
many of them began as great sinners. Because they recognized the enormity
of their sins, they were profoundly changed when those sins had been forgiven.
They truly understood the significance of God's love for them because
they knew just how sinful they had been.
The Freedom of Forgiveness
The same will often hold true when we forgive others. If my friend apologizes
for talking behind my back and spreading rumors that led to the break
up of a relationship, then he probably knows how serious the matter is.
So if I do as Jesus asks and forgive him, then he will also see how much
I must value his friendship. Knowing that, he will place much more value
on our friendship in the future. Moreover, Jesus tells us we must
forgive others, for it is the key to opening to ourselves to the forgiveness
of God.
For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Mt 6:2-3)
And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. (Mk 11:25)
And in anger his lord delivered him to the jailers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart. (Mt 18:34-35)
The Freedom of Love
Let all that you do be done in love.
(1 Cor 16:14)
Sometimes the shortest verses in Scripture have the biggest meaning.
"All that you do" covers an awful lot of territory! Every action
you take, every word you speak, every thought you think -- who is up to
that challenge?
Think about it. How much of what we do every day is done out of selfishness,
pride or vanity? How many of our words are spoken for our own benefit?
How much of what we do is done with our own interests in mind? In a society
that virtually worships the individual, how can we even do some
of what we do out of love?
Yet that is what we are called to do as Christians. For God does all things
out of love. He does not condemn us, but rather forgives us whenever we
acknowledge our faults and ask Him for help. He is ever merciful with
us, just as He expects us to have mercy on each other.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
(Matthew 5:7)
He will always pardon us, and the Holy Spirit will provide us with the grace to be big enough to admit our faults, ask for forgiveness, forgive others in turn, and live our lives out of love for God and each other. Stop saying "It's not my fault." Stop looking for someone else to blame. God will help us -- but it takes a big person to ask. Are you big enough?
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