First Christian Church, Flora, Indiana

March, 2010

The news lately has been filled with persons and groups asking for forgiveness. A professional golfer made a public statement about his indiscretions and asked that everyone forgive him and give him another chance after his rehabilitation is finished. A major car company has recalled many of its cars and has made an appeal to the country to forgive them for making the mistakes that resulted in the recalls. On a more “at home” note, husbands and wives have asked each other to forgive them for not celebrating Valentine’s Day to its fullest; students ask their friends to forgive them for saying “this or that”; and parents ask their children to forgive them for yelling as “things got out of control.” Forgiveness, on so many levels, seems to be something we all need.

As we continue through the observance of Lent, forgiveness should be on our minds. This is a time in which we turn to God and in a very personal way ask Him to forgive us for a variety of things. We bow our heads and confess our sins to Him, and pray that he will change our hearts and our actions and help us to get a better focus on what is important in life. The amazing thing, or maybe it is not so amazing, is that God responds to our requests. That’s His nature. We are always on the receiving end of His grace and forgiveness.

On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he broke bread and shared a cup with his best friends, the disciples. He told them that soon, he was going to be arrested, convicted and die. But he also told them that this would not be the end. In just 3 days, he would be resurrected, and new life would enter his body. Plus, he assured us, in those actions and words, that we too could receive the gift of eternal life, that our sins and mistakes would be forgiven, if only we would turn our hearts towards God. He did, in fact, pay the price of sin, for us, so that we would not have to suffer and be unsure of the future beyond this world. That was the supreme gift of forgiveness that anyone could give: their own life.

Is God calling you to be more forgiving? Does he ask you to make sacrifices for His purpose on earth? Even the most simple request of finding an hour each week to gather in Church for worship and praise? Is that too much to ask, remembering that Jesus gave his own life for us? I think it is not too much to ask. Do not wait for Easter to claim the gift. Join your friends and family this Sunday, at Flora First Christian Church. It is a place of love.

Pastor Woody