The Madness of Unforgiveness: Forgiveness and Justice
- David and Marilynn Chadwick
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
by David Chadwick
Let’s continue to look at this topic of forgiveness. It is one of the main reasons Jesus came to the world. To forgive us from our sins.
One of the major questions I get when it comes to the topic of forgiveness is, “How do I forgive when I still want to see justice for the wrong I experienced?”
Take a look at Luke 18:1-8 for a moment.
Jesus tells us in Luke 18:1 that he is giving us this parable so that we won’t give up in prayer and so that we will continue to persevere in faith.
A poor widow with nothing was treated badly by someone. We don’t know the specifics about her situation, but we do know that she was treated in a terribly unjust way. She went to the home of an unjust judge who didn’t fear God nor man. She started banging on his door and repeatedly demanded justice. Because of her persistence, he finally gave in to her unrelenting cry for help.
This is quite the depiction of God’s heart for justice. We are not poor widows. Because of Jesus, we are now adopted sons and daughters of the King of the universe. Not to mention, God is not an unjust judge, but a loving father.
If the unjust judge gave justice to this poor widow in Luke 18, how much more will our loving father give justice to his children?
Next time you are unjustly treated, persevere in prayer to your Daddy in heaven and demand justice. Perhaps it’s just a quick reminder, like: “Father, I know you will deal with this one day.
I believe it in faith because justice is your character.”
From there, release the offense back to God, trusting he will make all things right in His time!
For when Jesus returns, will he find faith on earth? (verse 8). Will he find us believing that God is good and just and will right all wrongs? Even if we’ve not yet seen it? Remember, it may be heaven before we fully see God’s justice and understand all that happened to us. But justice will be done. That is God’s character.
So continue to ask God for justice regularly in prayer, believing in faith one day it will occur.