What about the life of Christ that beckons you to grow in your capacity to forgive?

For me, it is in Luke 23 when Jesus said, “Father, forgive them [the murderers, mockers, and abusers] for they don’t know what they are doing?”

Are you kidding me? Seems like they knew exactly what they were doing! These very men nailed him to the cross, stuck it in the ground, spit on him, and divided his clothes among themselves.  The atmosphere was thick with hate, spite, and jealousy.

Yet, he forgives them and me and that simply leaves me speechless.

I was not at the foot of the cross that day hurling curses with the masses. But I have my own shameful list of misdeed: stealing, lying, hating, speaking evil about others, pride, rebellion, and unbelief. I lust, deceive, and envy. And left to my own devises, I would still be in bondage to all of these. But I have believed that Jesus died for ME that day and all the misdeeds and sins of my life. His forgiveness has reached even me. That leaves me speechless, too.

I am far from perfect. Very far. But as I seek to know him through his word and and come humbly to him in prayer when I fall into sin…that same love that kept him on the  cross comes to me again, and again, and again.

What kind of love is that? Amazing love.