One of the symptoms of Parkinson’s for me is that I will occasionally waken in the middle of the night with my mind racing with ideas.  It has become a routine way that the Lord speaks to me.  (No, I don’t hear a voice) They could also be just my vain imagination or bad pizza, I call them ponderings until I can validate them by the Word and Godly counsel.  Please consider and help me determine if the pondering is from God or bad pizza.

FORGIVENESS FACTOR

Recently Patty and I were watching a secular program on TV in which a young couple were trying to resolve a conflict created by a wrongful act by the lady.  After much ineffective exchange of dialogue, she asked him a simple but profound question that captured his and our attention.  “Do you love me more than you hate what I have done?”  That caught him off guard and caused him to solemnly ponder what she had asked.  Likewise, it launched us in a conversation on the relationship of love to forgiveness.  

Indeed, our capacity to forgive is in proportion to our capacity to love.  Colossians 3:12-17 explains it well.

First, in verse 12 we see what kind of heart it takes to forgive.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 

Then we are reminded that our sins have been forgiven so who are we to not forgive others.
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 

Just as God’s incentive to forgive us is based on His love, likewise, we let love prevail in forgiving others.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 

We steward our heart by two means while we go through the process of forgiving.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

Above all else, the Lord Jesus  is our model and our means for all we say and all we do.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

So if there is a person whom you must consider forgiving, start by asking yourself the question: “Do you love that person more than you hate what they have done?”  Remember that our capacity to love is established by the love God has lavished upon us even while we were yet sinners.

1 John 3:1
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.

-Jay Letey