Aber ich verzeihen Sie
Dear Lord,
I can’t even forgive a mild insult from my childhood. Do you really think I’ll be able to forgive like Corrie did?
Your Daughter,
Liz
After the war, Corrie began traveling around the world, giving talks about her experiences in concentration camps. In Berlin, a former guard approached her after one of her talks. When he asks for forgiveness, she’s really put to the test.
Corrie: I could not [forgive him]…I remembered the suffering of my dying sister through him. And then there came a bitterness in my heart.
So she doesn’t deny the anger, the bitterness, the hate. I guess there’s no use pretending with God. He knows how you feel.
Corrie: But when I saw that I could not forgive, suddenly I knew – I myself have no forgiveness! I knew I wasn’t ready for Jesus coming because I have no forgiveness for my sins.
Fifty or so years of discipleship have taught her that she’s supposed to forgive. Not only that, but it’s required in order to be forgiven. She knows that Jesus is coming again and she wants to be ready. She knows Matthew 6:14-15* This seems hardly fair on the part of God. It’s like a mandated federal program without federal funding. How the heck are we supposed to do this?
Corrie: But, Lord, I am not able…I can not! I can only hate him!
She’s perfectly honest with God. I guess that’s the only way.
Corrie: Lord, I can move my hand, but you must do the rest.
She takes the physical step toward forgiveness, despite her bitterness and anger. She must really trust that God is going to do whatever else it takes to make the interaction complete.
Corrie: ‘Brother, give me your hand. Aber ich verzeihen Sie I forgive you everything’
And I shook hands with him. It was as if I felt God’s love stream through my arms.
You never touched so (much), the ocean of God’s love, as when you forgive your enemies. Can you forgive? No, I can’t either…but He can.
Dear Liz,
It’s good you know that you can’t do it alone.
My love is available to you through the Holy Spirit.
Just ask.
Your Father,
God
Corrie says, "And that is so often when I come to the Lord and I say, I can’t do it. It is just as if the Lord smiles and he says, 'I know that already a long time, but I’m so glad that you know that now.'"
*14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
I can’t even forgive a mild insult from my childhood. Do you really think I’ll be able to forgive like Corrie did?
Your Daughter,
Liz
After the war, Corrie began traveling around the world, giving talks about her experiences in concentration camps. In Berlin, a former guard approached her after one of her talks. When he asks for forgiveness, she’s really put to the test.
Corrie: I could not [forgive him]…I remembered the suffering of my dying sister through him. And then there came a bitterness in my heart.
So she doesn’t deny the anger, the bitterness, the hate. I guess there’s no use pretending with God. He knows how you feel.
Corrie: But when I saw that I could not forgive, suddenly I knew – I myself have no forgiveness! I knew I wasn’t ready for Jesus coming because I have no forgiveness for my sins.
Fifty or so years of discipleship have taught her that she’s supposed to forgive. Not only that, but it’s required in order to be forgiven. She knows that Jesus is coming again and she wants to be ready. She knows Matthew 6:14-15* This seems hardly fair on the part of God. It’s like a mandated federal program without federal funding. How the heck are we supposed to do this?
Corrie: But, Lord, I am not able…I can not! I can only hate him!
She’s perfectly honest with God. I guess that’s the only way.
Corrie: Lord, I can move my hand, but you must do the rest.
She takes the physical step toward forgiveness, despite her bitterness and anger. She must really trust that God is going to do whatever else it takes to make the interaction complete.
Corrie: ‘Brother, give me your hand. Aber ich verzeihen Sie I forgive you everything’
And I shook hands with him. It was as if I felt God’s love stream through my arms.
You never touched so (much), the ocean of God’s love, as when you forgive your enemies. Can you forgive? No, I can’t either…but He can.
Dear Liz,
It’s good you know that you can’t do it alone.
My love is available to you through the Holy Spirit.
Just ask.
Your Father,
God
Corrie says, "And that is so often when I come to the Lord and I say, I can’t do it. It is just as if the Lord smiles and he says, 'I know that already a long time, but I’m so glad that you know that now.'"
*14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
posted by Liz Burdick at
3:17 PM
0 Comments
