The Perfect Gift - December 2005

It’s hard to believe we’re in the midst of another holiday season.  My goodness.. how time flies.  It seems it was only yesterday that we were enjoying the long, hazy days of summer.  But the season is upon us.. and shop we must.. for that perfect holiday gift.. for that special someone in our lives.

I must confess, I was once one of those early morning, over-zealous, day after Thanksgiving holiday shoppers.  I was at the mall at 5:30 a.m. outfitted in a jogging suit, sneakers and my itty, bitty purse strapped across by body because I needed both hands free to carry all the packages.  There was no shame in my game!

Now that I’m older and thankfully wiser, the gift giving aspect of the holiday season pales in comparison to the blessings of good health, family and friends.  No one I know needs another sweater, bottle of designer fragrance or household gadget that they will probably never use.

So, what is the perfect gift?  I’m glad you asked.

Go with me to the parable found in Matthew 18:21-35.  This is a popular passage of scripture that you’re probably familiar with.  What happens here is that the apostle Peter asks Jesus how many times should we forgive our brother when he sins against us.  Jesus answers, “…seventy times seven.”  Jesus goes on to say that the Kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who had compassion on one of his servants that owed him a large sum of money.  Instead of selling the servant and his family into slavery because he could not pay, the king released him and forgave his debt.  That same servant found a fellow servant that owed him a small amount of money.  He demanded payment and even went so far as to take the servant by the throat.  The scripture goes on to say that the servant refused to have compassion on his fellow servant and threw him in jail.

I believe we all want forgiveness, but are we willing to reciprocate?

“But you don’t know what they did,” you say.  No, I don’t, but God does and He still calls us to forgive one another.  If we don’t forgive one another then God can’t forgive us.  It’s just that simple.  “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”  Matthew 6:15.

Have you ever noticed how it seems that when someone has hurt or mistreated you that when you see that person again they’ve completely forgotten about whatever it is you’re still hurt or mad about?  They’re jut skipping along and enjoying life.

“The nerve!  I can’t believe he/she is over there laughing and smiling.”

I know.  Been there too.

You see, that’s why forgiveness is so important.  It’s for our own good.  While we’re holding on to the bitter root of unforgiveness, God can’t position us to receive the blessings that he has for us.  I even heard someone say that we become polluted inside when we walk in unforgiveness.  Imagine that, “polluted” inside.  That’s not a good thing.

God desires to bless us more than we could ever imagine.  When we walk in unforgiveness, we forfeit those blessings and the destiny that he has ordained for us.  No infraction is worth forfeiting your destiny.  That’s why God calls us to walk in forgiveness towards one another.  It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary.

Be determined to forgive, forget it, forever.  And don’t forget to forgive yourself as well.  This holiday season why not give the gift of forgiveness.  It truly is one-size fits all.