Give Forgiveness

John Wesley, one of the brothers of Methodism was a missionary to the Colony of Georgia set up by James Edward Oglethorpe who was a military hero in the Turkish Wars, and later became a member of the British Parliament. He helped legislate the release of hundreds of inmates from debtors prison, and set up the colony of Georgia with those releases. It was among those released from prison in which Wesley pastored. While there Wesley recorded in his journal a conversation he had with Oglethorpe about forgiveness. Ironically, General Oglethorpe is recorded as saying, “I never forgive and I never forget,” to which Wesley replied, “Then, Sir, I hope you never sin.” Wesley went on to write, “Forgiveness releases one from my judgement and relinquishes us all to God’s justice.” When I forgive, I remember I am forgiven and I let go of my right to hurt another for hurting me. There is freedom in forgiveness. Jesus, reading from Isaiah 61, declared his mission in ministry, “‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free….” Join me this Sunday as we seek freedom from the oppression of unforgiveness!