Dishonored!

March 24, 2022

Dishonored!

I was taking the high road to love and serve Jesus when out of nowhere a friend betrayed me.  The betrayal was very difficult for many reasons. 

The betrayal was totally unexpected, it was malicious, and it was pre-meditated!  But, what was even more devastating was the person continued over and over again to disgrace me and dishonor me. 

It took me a long time to pray through all of that pain.  It took even longer to navigate the long journey of forgiving that person.  I was dishonored and it hurt in places I did not even know were inside of me.

Being dishonored by another person is very difficult.  But, what is even more difficult is when we dishonor our self.  I am left disgraced and filled with shame because of what I have done to myself.  I am convinced that I am a failure and that I have disqualified myself from ever being used for God’s glory.

I dishonor myself when I belittle myself, compromise my character, or undo my integrity.  In contrast, I honor myself when I demonstrate self-respect, guard appropriate boundaries, and maintain healthy self-esteem.

When I am dishonored by others or by me, I will need the healing of forgiveness so I can move forward.  I will need to forgive other people, forgive myself, and be assured that Jesus has forgiven me.  But, this kind of forgiveness is no easy path.

I wonder if the person who asked Jesus how many times he should forgive had experienced the unrelenting pain of being dishonored.  In Matthew 18:21-22 Peter asks Jesus; “’How many times should I forgive someone who does something wrong to me?  Is seven times enough?’  Jesus answered: Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times!’”

The more literal translation of the text is “seventy times seven.”  Jesus wants to be clear that we should never stop forgiving…other people or our self. 

There may be no sin more difficult to forgive than the sin of being dishonored by another person or by our self.  But when we receive the assurance of forgiveness a new joy begins to fill our heart.  In Psalm 32:1 we hear; “Our God, you bless everyone whose sins you forgive and wipe away.”

When the blessing of forgiveness touches the heart that has been dishonored, joy fills the place where pain was lodged.  When joy is renewed our heart is filled with delight in the Lord God.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug