But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:35-36
“I said in a previous chapter that chastity was the most unpopular of the Christian virtues. But I am not sure I was right. I believe there is one even more unpopular. It is laid down in the Christian rule, ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.’ Because in Christian morals ‘thy neighbour’ includes ‘thy enemy’, and so we come up against this terrible duty of forgiving our enemies. Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive, as we had during the war.”
C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in Mere Christianity (New York: HarperCollins, 1980) 137.
So in today’s final post from this classic work looking at what is needful, we discover that forgiveness comes into view as both a command and a gift.
Jesus forgives us as we forgive others. Brace yourself. The etymology of the word “forgive” means: “to give away, to give up, or to grant completely.”
See why forgiveness might just be the greatest or one of the greatest forms of generosity? We give away, give up, and grant completely to others the way we want God to give and grant to us.
God, make us people known for our forgiveness. Remind us of the forgiveness you have extended to us so we become people willing to forgive others. Do this by your Holy Spirit I pray in Jesus name. Amen.
This week, I heard the whisper of Jesus. It was a still small voice. It beckoned me to plan a trip back to Ukraine in the coming months to encourage workers on the front lines and deliver aid plus a message.
What is the message: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
While the Ukrainians have suffered unspeakable losses and horrible pain, it will only be worse if they chose to hate their enemies. I need to remind them of this and take some emergency aid.
My wife just returned from teaching there last month. The Ukrainians feel exhausted and forgotten. If you want to help send me, reply to this message. I feel led to go serve and help them.