While that phrase does kick off one of my (and clearly Billy Graham’s) favorite hymns, that’s not what this  post is about.  Rather, as I continue the rest-of-my-life calling to memorize the ENTIRE Bible (and then recite it back to Him as a very unique love/thank-You gift and then help others do likewise in a way that’s actually easy and FUN) I find myself coming across it more than once.  I’m sure there will be others in the future as I work my way through this historic goal but will highlight two for now since I came across both just this morning.

Just as David is “the man after God’s own heart”, I view the beloved Apostle Paul as “the man after Jesus’s own heart” in that I can’t think of anyone in the A.D./post-Christ’s-earthly-life era who more fully resembles Him, so much so that the Holy Spirit superintended his commanding the early Christians and all since to “imitate ME”!  WOW!  And he could say that because of the fact that he imitated the Lord:  “Be imitators of me, JUST AS I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

The second location of that phrase I came across this morning is far more immediately attainable but just as (no pun intended =) mind-blowing.

Because “just as” Paul imitated the Lord Jesus in general, we are to do so in a very specific way, in the matter of FORGIVING OTHERS.

I think that perhaps the two most difficult things for human nature to swallow are submitting (voluntarily giving up control) and forgiving.  Forgiving those who wrong or mistreat us.  No, human nature’s default position is revenge.  Yet, as ever, the Christian is called to do the EXACT OPPOSITE of what comes naturally to us, the exact opposite of the flesh (faith’s filthy but ultimately feckless foe).  But praise the Lord, He gives us very clear MOTIVATION in the Bible to help us do that, to forgive others.

He often motivates us via carrot but particularly when a matter is SO crucial, indeed grave, He seems to also and even primarily use a “stick”.  And that’s certainly the case when it comes to forgiving others.  Just look at what He says in Matthew 18:21-35 about a certain slave whose master forgave him an unpayable debt but who then went out and demanded that a fellow slave repay him a far lesser sum and had the guy thrown in prison for nonpayment.  And when the master heard of it, he had these choice and very pertinent-to-us words:  “Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, JUST AS I had mercy on you?”  Then the master restored his (unpayable) debt and had him tortured then said this (here’s that “stick”!):  “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”

“From your heart” is a very high bar, but the Bible goes EVEN FURTHER than that!  We are to forgive others to the same EXTENT that the Lord has forgiven US.  I.e., not just sincerely but completely, without reserve.

• “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever [a great parallel to the “each one of you” just mentioned above] has a complaint against anyone [no exceptions!]; JUST AS the Lord forgave you, so also should you.” (Colossians 3:13)
• “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, JUST AS God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Talk about a HIGH BAR!  The highest.  The absolutely highest.  And yet that isn’t a suggestion, it’s a command.  A very clear command with very clear consequences.

Can you think of anyone in your life whom you haven’t  forgiven?  Fully and completely, without reserve or reservation or holding back?  Any hidden grudges beneath the surface in your life?  I strongly urge us all to take a very close – and frequent/regular – look at that, just to be sure, since the consequences of failing to do so could not be any bigger or graver.  Perhaps it’s a sibling or parent.  Maybe a co-worker or boss who is making or in the past made your life miserable.  Maybe an ex.  Maybe someone at church.

Remember when I said that God not only gives us that command but also the motivation?  Here’s what I mean.  If you can’t bring yourself to do it for them, for that person(s) who wronged you, and if you won’t do it for the Lord, DO IT FOR YOURSELF!  In other words, the perspective I’m about to tell you will make this MUCH EASIER and thus provide ample motivation:  forgiving others benefits YOU infinitely  more than it benefits them.

Give that perspective a try and I know that you, like me, will find freely forgiving anyone and everyone to be a ton of FUN!  You literally won’t be able to “get (give) enough of it.”  You’ll become ADDICTED to fully and immediately forgiving others, such that it will become your new “default position”, your “knee-jerk” reaction whenever some “jerk” wrongs you.  As long as you don’t forget who’s the biggest beneficiary by far:  YOU!
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