Forgiveness and the Aftermath

I was asked by a good friend yesterday about the forgiveness sermon out of Philemon a couple of weeks ago. He asked a good question and I will put it out there for you: What do you when you have tried this route, when you have done right by another party that has done you wrong, and they refuse?? What do you do when you are willing to forgive, but they don’t give a rip??

Does this actually happen??? YOU BETCHA. As a former youth minister and now pastor, I can tell you that people WILL get mad at you and refuse to forgive . . . I know about that!!! What can you do?? You can go as far as you can go, and then I believe they have to meet you. You can try and try and try, and if they do not want to forgive (OR want to be forgiven), you have done all you can do.

My friend talked about a relationship that had been this way for decades. I asked him, ‘If this person came to you today and wanted to sit down and make it right, would you sit down with him?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ Well, that is the HEART of forgiveness God requires.

You cannot make anyone forgive you, and as ridiculous as it sounds, you cannot force anyone to accept forgiveness. If your heart is there, you are there . . .Unfortunately, sometimes all you can do it let it go and move on!