A Strategy Unleashing A Better Future

Here's a true story about a composer and a potential forgiveness issue. Every Christmas, composer Giacomo Puccini would have a cake baked for each of his friends. One year, after quarreling with Arturo Toscanini just before Christmas, he tried to cancel the order for the conductor's cake. But it was too late. The cake had already been sent out. The next day, Toscanini received a telegram from Puccini: "Cake sent by mistake." Toscanini replied in return: "Cake eaten by mistake."

Early this morning, a small note appeared on my Facebook page from one of my friends, asking, "Ed, how do you forgive?" I replied, "I don't do these kinds of questions until I drink my coffee." The question was genuine, the request was sincere, and this explanation came from God - with the help of coffee.  

One of my favorite moments in the whole Bible is in Luke 22. The disciples get into a heated argument about who among them is the greatest disciple. Jesus knows that this kind of talk can stress relationships and divide a team. He also knows trouble is just ahead for his disciple Peter. 

Here's the exchange between Jesus and Peter: "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. And Peter said to Him, "Lord, with You, I am ready to go both to prison and to death." And He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me." Of course, what Jesus said was true. Peter denied Jesus three times and, afterward, Peter felt lower than a snake’s belly.

Jesus faced two options for responding to this incident. He could accuse Peter, or He could intercede for him. Jesus could lower the discussion to a less constructive level, or He could elevate it to a higher one. Jesus could follow what the world has done for thousands of years, or He could offer a new approach. He could find fault, or He could find a solution. Correction is necessary, but condemnation and condescension are not.

Jesus chose to be an intercessor. He prayed for Peter rather than accusing him. He knew you couldn't preach the good news and yet be the bad news. He prayed that Peter's faith and ministry after this trial would be greater than it ever was before his trial, and the rest is history. God answers prayers like that.

The Bible calls intercession 'standing in the gap.' Long ago in the Bible, God was searching for someone who would "build up a wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land." Notice the emphasis on building up. One person can stand in the gap for another. Jesus demonstrated significant, dare I say, 'gapsmanship.' The definition of the word intercession is to expose oneself for the protection of someone or something; to defend against any approaching danger; to stand in an exposed position; and to fight in prayer for that someone bravely.

Here’s my question for us today. If someone has hurt us, why not choose to forgive, even pray for that person, rather than accuse them? Forgiveness doesn’t alter the past, but it changes your future. Remember, it's not about what others are doing; it's about what you are doing. It's even more about what God is doing in you when you forgive. You won't realize how strong your heart is until you forgive those and those things that hurt it. Jonathan Huie says, “Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace.” Lori Deschene says, “Peace is accepting today, releasing yesterday, and giving up the need to control tomorrow.  

Here’s a quote revealing the solution, not the problem. "Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself." No church is perfect, no Christian is perfect, no person is perfect, no human institution is perfect, and no marriage is perfect. If everything had to be perfect, you wouldn't be here. Life creates conflicts. Today, many imperfect people struggle to forgive others for their imperfections. It’s like a circular firing squad. 

Stop focusing on imperfection and instead focus on perfection, Jesus Christ. You become what you focus on. If you focus on the hypocrite, you become the hypocrite. If you don't forgive now, you won’t receive forgiveness when you need it in the future. Learn to change yourself. The more you hold on to unforgiveness, the longer it will cling to you. Then you become a chaos candidate. 

Are you an intercessor or an accuser? Most of the issues seen in the news today stem from a lack of forgiveness in our culture. Without forgiveness, life becomes a cycle of resentment and retaliation. Forgiveness doesn't mean approving what happened in the past; it means choosing to rise above it. The first to apologize is the bravest; the first to forgive is the strongest; the first to forget is the happiest. That’s strategic.    

It's your future. Choose, but choose wisely. You’re not the problem. You’re the solution. Hint: To err is human; to forgive is divine. If God forgave us, can’t we extend that forgiveness to others?