Rachel Whisman

I was walking across the parking lot of Sam’s, slightly fuming from something someone did earlier. I was allowing bitterness to creep in, and the thought “Rachel, you can’t do this” meandered its way across my heart. In that moment, a verse that had been circulating in my mind came to land and detonate my pride. 

“Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” -Colossians 3:13 NLT 

“Make allowance” stung, as I did not want to in that moment, “give space”. I did not want to invite someone else’s fault into the lobby of my heart and welcome them. I wanted to be inhospitable: short, judgmental, and critical. It burned, but was quickly soothed as the other words cascaded over me, “Remember, the Lord forgave you”. 

We all have moments where the venom of unforgiveness tastes sweet until it turns sour and poisons us. Your friend’s words cut deep at the insult that landed your way. At home, the kids are not grateful for the meals you have prepared or the laundry you have folded. In the evening, your husband forgets to bring home that one item on the grocery list you really needed. As a teacher, one of your students disrespects you in front of the class. You judge and criticize others before giving them a chance to speak. You are left offended and annoyed. Ready to strike in thought or deed to capitalize on your wound, but he calls us to do something different. 

He calls us to remember. To look back and look to Jesus, “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” (1 Peter 3:23). He was and is our allowance. His whole life was making room, so that we could be welcomed in and forgiven even as we offended him and made it inhospitable. To reflect, do you give space and room for other people’s shortcomings? Are you quick to criticize and point out their faults? Do you respond as Christ did, as He entrusted himself to God, or do you entrust yourself to your own wisdom? 

We do not just stop at remembering, but are called to move forward and forgive. To extend the gift we have received, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:32). No one is perfect, and to think we are in comparison to others strips Christ of the beauty of his redemption and who He is. He is our perfection, and we depend on Him and his spirit to allow us to make allowance for each other’s faults. It is not I, but Christ in me. Everything we need is in him (Eph. 1:3), and He is able and willing to exercise his power through our weakness to display his glory for our good.