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WEDNESDAY THOUGHT 12/12/12

December 12, 2012 on 11:36 am | By John Ingrisano | In Faith & Forgiveness | No Comments

When my children were in their teens, their mother and I wanted to make sure they knew they could always turn to us when in trouble, even if they had done something downright less-than-brilliant. So, if they were in trouble, all they had to do was pick up the phone and say one word – “Amnesty!” – and they would not be interrogated or punished.

God does the same with us. When we screw up, He doesn’t say, “Gotcha!” Nor does He say that what we did is okay. He simply forgives us when we recognize our foolishness (sometimes even when we don’t). He grants us amnesty.

My point: When we have sinned or not trusted as we should (that trust part keeps me busy), all we have to do is ask. In fact, sometimes we don’t even have to ask. God just forgives us. That’s kind of nice. No matter how many times we screw up, God still loves us and forgives us. We get to start fresh as many times as we need. Ahhhhh. – jri

“’Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one

of them condemn you?’ ‘No, Lord,’ she said.

And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I. Go and sin no

more.’”

John 8:11

(Jesus speaking to the woman

accused of adultery)

A couple of comments about the dialogue between Jesus and the woman caught in adultery: First, she did not ask for forgiveness; Jesus simply refused to condemn her. He didn’t demand an on-your-knees, groveling confession, complete with lurid details. No, she didn’t have to grovel or beg. Second, Jesus also did not condone her sin. Third, He gently cautioned her to change her ways, saying, “Go and sin no more.” He did not lecture her or moralize at her until her eyes glazed over. Imagine going up to a person who had wronged you and just saying, “It’s okay. I care about you,” and then just loving that person in silence. Amnesty. Grant it often, just as it is often granted to us.

John Ingrisano

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(770) 314-2649

December 12, 2012

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