Forgiveness & Hypocrisy

*This post is not intended to point at anyone other than myself

I've heard it said, "Forgive and Forget." But is that possible and is that what we're called to do? I've been thinking a lot about forgiveness in the last few months and what it entails. Forgiveness is a pretty complex thing(due to human emotion) and it's much easier said than done. I've come to the point where I understand that to forgive and forget is a lot of nonsense and isn't in the least biblical. Yes, we're called to forgive, but are we told to forget? I don't think so. I like how Elisabeth Elliot put it in her book, Love has a Price Tag,

"It's not a matter of ignoring what's been done. When God forgives He doesn't merely overlook our trespasses. He doesn't ask us to overlook others' trespasses either-He asks us to forgive them. So that means our Christian obligation is to forgive anybody who has invaded our rights, our territory, our comfort, our self-image, whether they acknowledge the wrong or not."

So why is it so hard to forgive? Ultimately, it boils down to selfishness. I am not willing to give up my rights; my right to some belonging, my right to privacy, my right to time, my right to not be hurt emotionally, etc. Selfishness is what holds on and says, "I don't trust God enough to completely surrender my so-called rights to what I consider to be stability. I don't trust that He has my best for me." If I did, I would instantly forgive and move on.

If I wasn't so selfish I would completely grasp that not only did He love me so very much that He sent His Son to die for me, He had already completely forgiven me for every sin I would ever commit, as well as forgiving the sins of every person that has ever and will ever come into existence in this world. Ultimate Forgiveness was given in the birth, life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why am I so very hypocritical that I cling to my selfish little desires for my rights and forget so quickly what has been forgiven of me?

"Following Christ means walking the road He walked, and in order to forgive us He had to die. His follower may not refuse to relinquish his or her own right, territory, comfort or anything that the follower regards as his or hers. Forgiveness is relinquishment. It is a laying down. No one can take it from us, any more than anyone could take the life of Jesus if He had not laid it down of His own will. But we can do as He did. We can offer it up, writing off whatever loss it may entail, in the sure knowledge that the man who loses his life or his reputation or his face or anything else for the sake of Christ will save it." EE

"If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all rights to himself, take up his cross and follow Me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it; but the man who loses his life for My sake will find it." Mark 16:24-25

Lord, may I learn to forgive as You have forgiven me. Forgive me of my hypocrisy and may I daily be reminded of your incredible forgiveness and redemption.