"The Altar of Forgiveness"
“Forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” ~ Colossians 3:13
This scripture is not a promise but is a command from our Heavenly Father. You MUST forgive as He has forgiven you.
What comes to your mind, body, and spirit when you read this above command? I know for myself there has been significant tension in my heart and a temptation to wrestle with God about it.
Though the Lord commands us to forgive, I want to make clear that this does NOT mean that you are obligated to enter back into relationship (termed reconciliation) with any person or those who have hurt you. Yet, we are commanded to purge our hearts, let go, and forgive the ones who have offended us. It's a process of true cleansing and healing of our own woundedness, offenses, bitter roots, anger, and rage that can take up territory in our hearts and keep us from experiencing the fullness of the peace and joy of the Lord. The scripture continues to tell us….
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body and be thankful.” ~ Colossians 3:14
What Is An Altar? ...
The altar is the place you go to surrender and lay down all your hurts and pains that have wounded your spirit. The altar is where the Lord calls you to come humbly into His presence, to forgive, and to be forgiven… and the wonderful thing is that YOU get to make the choice.
My Story? ...
I arrived at church one morning with many hurts, pains, and sadness that had clamped my heart; and anger and bitterness had begun to grow. As our pastor began to preach, the Lord spoke to him to lay hands on everyone who wanted to come down to the altar. My spirit leaped, and I knew I needed to go. In fact I wanted to run down to the front and purge my heart that had become so clouded and hardened by the world. As my feet starting moving, tears started flowing, and the closer I came to the altar the more the tears streamed down my face. Yes, I went into a full uncontrollable cry, and there at the altar of forgiveness I surrendered to God. As I walked back to my seat the Lord revealed my heart had been broken. But through the act of forgiveness, I was being healed.
Why Do We Resist Forgiving Others? ...
So many times we want to remain in control and keep these vulnerable moments and raw emotions at bay, but why? Because to look inward and feel our deep pain and hurt is not easy. To leap into the deep waters and cleanse the spirit is a choice. YET when we make that leap, HE frees us, and JOY rushes in.
Does this mean your relationships are put back together - NO. This just means that you have obeyed the above command and released the offender. You have built an altar in response to the Lord's command: “so you also must forgive.” You have made the choice to let go and surrender the hurts, the pain, and the emotional suffering caused by offenses. Once you leave them at the altar, they are never to be picked up again!
Not to Fear ...
Do not be afraid of your own wounds that keep you from a deeper more intimate relationship with Jesus. He knows, He sees, and He patiently waits for you to come unto Him.
Today, Will You Make the Choice? ...
Build your altar of forgiveness. Allow your heart to flow with new love, joy, and peace. Honestly, for me it was hard to lay down my pain, offenses, wounds, loss, and betrayal at the altar and hear from God that my heart was broken. But then the Lord healed my heart there at my altar of forgiveness. He can heal yours, too!
The Bible tells us in Psalm 51:17: “My sacrifice, O God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. forgive as the Lord forgave you." ~ Colossians 3:13
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" ~ Ephesians 4:32
~ Elizabeth Bowman