Our Text for today is Matthew 6:14-15
“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
The story that I am about to share moves me. It was written by Corrie ten Boom. Near the end of World War II, she and her sister, Betsy, were cast into the Ravensbruck concentration camp because they helped Jews. Her sister and father died there, but she survived. She wrote the following story about forgiveness:
“It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there, the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsy’s pain blanched face.
“He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. “How grateful I am for your message Fraulein,” he said. “To think, as you say, He has washed my sins away!”
“His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.
What would you do? If it were you sister who died at his cold heart and deeds and he stuck his hand out to you for recognition of forgiveness?
“I tried to smile, I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.
As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.”
So let’s remember that anybody can forgive lovable people who out of character, hurt us. But can you forgive those who are hard to forgive?
Lonnie Davis