“THE GRAVE CONSEQUENCE OF A COLD HEART IS THAT WE CAN NEITHER
LOVE NOR RECEIVE LOVE. WE END UP
CUTTING OURSELVES OFF FROM GOD WHO IS COMPASSION AND LOVE.” These are words from a meditation of the
ANAWIM WAY booklet on the Gospel of the “Unforgiving Servant”.
Pondering on
these words during my ‘Quiet Time’, I realized how important it is for one “TO
FORGIVE”. A “COLD HEART” is the result
of “UNFORGIVENESS” and a COLD HEART can
“NEITHER LOVE NOR RECEIVE LOVE”. It “CUTS US OFF FROM GOD WHO IS COMPASSION AND
LOVE.”
It dawned on
me that what is at stake when one refuses to forgive is the very reason for
man’s existence. I believe that God created
man and bestowed on him the Gift of Freedom to enable him to love. TO LOVE then is the reason for his
existence. In other words, man exists to
love and if he does not love, he has no reason to exist.
In the
parable of the “Unforgiving Servant” (Matt.18:21-35), our Lord Jesus Christ
conveyed the message that just as God’s forgiveness is immeasurable because of
His love, so also should our forgiveness be limitless because of our love. To me, forgiveness, then, is the “TEST” of
“LOVE”.
Forgiveness,
however, is extended to one who repents.
The Anawim Way says: “As often as we repent, God forgives us. As often as our fellow servant repents, we
must forgive him.” Hence, repentance is
a requirement for forgiveness to be obtained.
How then
should I extend forgiveness to one who does not repent and ask for pardon? This is a question that confronted me in my
meditation. The answer that came to me
is: “JUST PRAY FOR HIM THAT GOD MAY DO WHAT IS BEST FOR HIM.” I believe that when I pray for anyone who has
hurt me, I shall have extended my love and leave everything to God’s infinite
Wisdom, Goodness and LOVE.
by: Buddy Cagurangan
March 5, 2013
