Serving Life in Christ - The Power of Forgiveness

by Jacquie D.

Sometime during the wintry night of January 25, 1987, I woke, vaguely aware of a flicker of light smoke and heat in my room. Completely dazed, with warm blood dripping from my face, I staggered and crawled towards my bedroom door, down the hall through the heat and flames and out the front door; escaping with only my life.

The night of terror

That night changed my life. Three drugged and intoxicated men intruded our home, beat my parents and myself, and killed my mother. The intruders doused the beds and floors with gasoline, set the house on fire, and left us for dead. My father and I were able to flee the inferno but my mother succumbed to the beating injuries. The intruders were apprehended. Two were friends of my brother and the third was my brother himself. Fourteen months later, all were found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without eligibility for parole for 25 years.

My life’s journey had been redefined. My mom’s death and the pursuing circumstances left me aching and vulnerable with a void that I longed to fill.

During my recuperation, I was invited to attend a youth group at a local church and a year later, I became a Christian. I believe that God had given me, on that night of terror, a second chance to live. Now I wanted to serve my Lord and discover His purposes for me.

The power of forgiveness

The words of Matthew 6:14 stung my heart: “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.�? I was astonished that God wanted me to forgive my perpetrators. Did He not know what they had done and the hurt they had caused? I realized Christ had been betrayed and beaten. He suffered and died on my behalf. I knew that God had forgiven me and I also needed to forgive.

I eventually walked into the prison to visit my brother and spoke forgiveness to him. I told him of my love for Jesus. I was able to forgive because Christ forgave me.

A genuine sense of love

Several years later, I realized I had to forgive the other offenders. They also needed to hear words of forgiveness. The Restorative Justice committee offered to facilitate a meeting whereby I had the opportunity to offer forgiveness to the two other boys. I shared with them that my forgiveness had come from the changes that Jesus Christ had made in my heart.

I now have no rage, anger, or bitterness, but a genuine sense of love for all three of the offenders. I was able to forgive. God gives us the power to forgive and the power to change. There is no greater love than this.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

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Further Reading:
Real Life, Real Fear, Real Faith
Asking God Hard Questions
Grace to Forgive - Strength to Go On