November 1, 2023 -- Luke 6:27-28 -- Powerfully forgiven, powerfully forgiving

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

But I say to you who hear,
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”
Luke 6:27-28 ESV

Recently I have been thinking about the 10 most important lessons taught to me by those who are incarcerated. The first lesson is the meaning of this passage: forgiveness. There is a group of incarcerated men who have been consistently coming to weekly Bible Study in the afternoon and then that same evening returning for Christian 12-Step. Yesterday’s topic was forgiveness. One of the men had been in a fight with someone on his range and though he did not start it, both men were sent to the SHU (Special Holding Unit). Once he was back in the regular prison population, the man in my Bible Study was also denied coming to Bible study and Overcomers for an extra week. At the meeting yesterday he shared how he’d forgiven his attacker, and forgiven the admin for keeping him from his right to religious programming. It was powerful. The atmosphere in the group was electric. This is a big deal among those in the group because they'd seen firsthand how unjust the circumstances were.

The seven other men at the table, some with tears, shared who they found to be the hardest to forgive in their lives. A man, who is a new Christian, explained how this is an area he feels he needs to work on. He did not even realize that is the Holy Spirit’s work in him. Since becoming a Christian he has noticed more things that are “wrong”. The group helped him to see this is evidence of God’s work in his life. This is the second lesson these guys have taught me is their willingness to be really open and to share honestly their failings and how the group encourages them. Usually the men banter a lot, critique and tease each other in very personal ways, but when the moment arrived for a discussion like this, it was like we’d entered sacred space. There was openness and kindness and encouragement to those who opened up. One man was quiet, in tears, and unable to look up. He was encouraged for being there. For facing his worst enemies (and some of the things done to him were unspeakable) and being willing to, in the strength of God, consider forgiving.

The stark question at the end of the lesson is this: “are you willing to forgive your enemies?” Think about it for a minute. Have you pretended that you don’t have enemies? Have you ignored the boiling in your stomach as certain people in your life are named? Are you acting like a polite Christian, rather than seeking the powerful intervention of the Holy Spirit to bring you into conformity with your confession of Jesus Christ?

Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

https://youtu.be/krIhm-oE74U?si=rmPWz8QHb2YobQAo “To God Be the Glory” the singing starts at 1:38

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