Wallace Mackay – Forgiveness – Special meeting – c. 2023

The word “forgiveness”, in our recent Wednesday night study has remained with me. Jesus is our perfect example of forgiveness. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” If Jesus had said Father don’t forgive them, then those in the first chapters of Acts would have no hope, but as it was, they were given opportunity to repent when they realised their sin.

 

The little captive maid is a good example of forgiveness. There could have been a lot of bitterness and hatred in her heart toward the enemy that took her away from her parents, home, friends and earthly prospects but there is evidence that God had put something in her heart that helped her to be different. She could give a message of hope to her master which was really her enemy when she could have said: I hope he dies soon! Matthew 5:43 “Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you.” This little maid was still under the old law, but she was living out what Jesus taught.

 

She had great faith in God when she said: “If my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy.” Jesus confirmed that this little maid had never seen the prophet heal anyone of leprosy. Luke 4:27 “Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet, and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian.” The life that this maid lived in that household must have left a good impression.

 

If she had been dishonest in her work and telling lies, then Naaman would not have believed. Her upright, honest life had left a good impression that led Naaman to get to know there is a God that is above all, but he had to humble himself to receive the cleansing that he needed. A testimony at convention: “Pride comes as standard equipment! It is there naturally; we don’t have to look for it. It’s a hard thing to deal with but we must.“ We can learn that from Jesus, “He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death.”