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To unleash, according to Webster, copyright 1951, means to free from
or as from a leash. And we all know what a leash is. According to
Webster, it is a cord as for a dog. I have a couple of dogs who
aren't all that well-trained. When we let them off the leash they
literally run wild. What I want you to consider is what it means to
let loose of forgiveness. What does it mean to unleash forgiveness
and watch it run wild? In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he
discusses the characteristics of our calling. In chapter 3 Paul says
we are to lay aside anger, wrath, malice, slander and abusive speech
from our mouths. He goes on to say that we shouldn't lie to one
another, since we laid aside the old self, with its evil practices,
and put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge,
according to the One who created us. We are asked to put on a heart
of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing
with one another and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint
against anyone. Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
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 A father lost his daughter and his wife that fateful day. The
story went on to say that he pleaded with the court to not sentence
the young man to prison. With grief that many of us cannot imagine,
this man released his rein over forgiveness. Instead, this man asked
the court if the young man could go from high school to high school
telling the story. He let go of the leash, or the cord, that held
back forgiveness.
Isn't that just what Paul asks us to do in the third chapter of
his letter to the Colossians? It appears to be an
easier-said-than-done task. So how do we get to that point of being
able to forgive what seems on the surface to be unforgivable? Where
do we turn for words of wisdom, God's wisdom? God's word points us
in the direction we need to head.
Ephesians 4:31-32 says it best: "Let all bitterness, wrath,
anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all
malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one
another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
[Stacey Martin] |
