“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing,” (Luke 23:34)
Jeering. Blasphemy. Mockery. All these were happening at the foot of the cross.
Imagine this beautiful display of mercy.
The scene can be pictured so vividly. Jesus looking down from the cross thinking, “they’re missing it.” “Forgive them, they are so ignorant.. they don’t see this dramatic display of love. They are so self-focused.” (Paraphrase coupled with my imagination)
To love ones enemies is demonstrated so beautifully by the King of Kings on the cross on this day.
The most unlovable people. The most sinful actions, crucifying the King and yet his concern that he demonstrated in the most painful, excruciating moment of HIS life was FOR YOU.
The sinful. The unloveable. The indignant. The prideful. The hurting. The hopeless. The sad. The messed up. The angry. The unfortunate. The sick. The needy. The achiever. The worried. The newlywed. The tired-mom.
Don’t miss it. Don’t let your distractions steal your wonder this week. Don’t forget to look up at the cross. Don’t keep your head down.
Look up and imagine a God that in your darkest moments said, “this is for you, I forgive you.”
![Has a post on social media ever made you immediately frustrated? Maybe you even started to think ill of the author of the post. You feel your chest tighten and wonder, how could they have said that? You are so mad you want to click the unfollow button.
[save for reference for when you’re offended]
An offense can happen when someone sins against us, or even if someone just rubs us the wrong way! Often, it comes out of a “right versus wrong” mentality. We get offended and harbor bitterness. Wounds and resentment create rifts and divisions and we find ourselves clutching our anger tightly in our fists to prove we are right.
It’s okay to feel upset when you are offended or sad, but we can’t let bitterness take root. Instead, we must be quick to forgive. As believers, holding a grudge inhibits our ability to reconcile. And when we avoid reconciliation, we miss out on what God wants to do in and through us.
Typically for me, offense stems from pride or self-righteousness. I have received some pretty offensive comments over time, and my feelings do get hurt. But as Christians, we need to be able to “overlook an offense” just like it says in Proverbs.
This passage says it is “one’s glory to overlook an offense.” #chasingsacred (read the rest of the article on @hosannarevival)](https://www.chasingsacred.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
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