Forgive and Never Forget

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Jesus asks us to forgive others as we have been forgiven. How easily we forget.

In the various Belay faithventures, we strive to be places of grace for people rebuilding lives from addiction, homelessness and prison. We provide jobs and career training for people normally shut out of the job market because of past mistakes. Belay believes a job is the second most important thing on the way to a self-sufficient life, just behind faith.

With that in mind, it's hard to not get discouraged when participants in our program become unforgiving towards co-workers. 

But then I look in the mirror.

We all want grace when it comes to our own mistakes and judgement when it involves other people's sins against us.

We are a hard headed, stiff-necked bunch. Jesus reminds us over and over to forgive others. It's why the people led by the older ones walked away one by one when Jesus invited those without sin to cast the first stone. Humans who have been around the sun more times understand that we all are deeply in need of forgiveness because of our tendency to hurt others.

We need to confess our sins as we forgive others who have sinned against us. And focus on sacrificial love toward others. 

Jesus moved into the neighborhood of earth as a human, died, and came back to life so that broken people who recognize their need for help can rebuild lives to the fullness God intended. It's an invitation open to all. 

And we should never be stingy with Gods grace. 

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