Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. Col. 3:13
As I was studying Spirit empowered forgiveness I came across an account by Stan Mooneyham while he was in East Africa. As he was walking along one day with a few of friends, he began to notice a lovely fragrance in the air. He began looking up into the trees and at the bushes around them. His friends noticed it and asked what he was looking for? He said the source of the beautiful aroma in the air. His friends chuckled and told him to look down. There on the ground were theses small blue flowers, and each time they were crushed by their feet a sweet smelling perfume was released into the air. “We call this the Forgiveness Flower. See it does not wait until we ask forgiveness for crushing it. It does not release its fragrance in measured doses or hold us to a reciprocal arrangement. It does not ask for an apology; it merely lives up to its name and forgives-freely, fully, and richly.”
What a beautiful picture of God given forgiveness, that brings a beautiful aroma to a stinking situation and overwhelms the offense with something that brings a relaxation, rest and healing into a destructive circumstance. May we too give off the beautiful fragrance of forgiveness and show the love of God.
Leave a Reply