Forgiveness

Last week we talked at Creekside about "Accountability." It is a tough subject for all of us. Being accountable, as we learned, makes us open and vulnerable. It causes us to be totally honest with God, ourselves, and others. It's not comfortable, but there is another word that will make it not only bearable, but healing. The word is "forgiveness."

The community of Christ followers that God has called us to be has at the center of it the attitude of love and forgiveness. We can only be this way because God has been that way with us. Reminds me of the verse that says, "We love Him because He first loved us.

When we have open forgiveness, we will have open accountability. They work hand in glove. Without fostering an atmosphere of forgiveness, people allow one another to go on in the life we live without being accountable. Fear is too great when we expect to be punished for being honest.

James tells us to "confess our fault one to another and pray for one another that you may be healed." (James 5:16) What freedom that concept brings to our lives!!

I want to challenge all of us to be more open and forgiving to one another within the community of Christ and without. By doing this we will encourage the family of Jesus to be open to one another and we also will reach those outside Jesus by the example we set before them.