Have you ever done something wrong? Seems like a simple question with a simple answer, but why is it we forget that when it comes time to forgive someone else from a mistake they made. Forgiveness is something we want to receive but many times are not as willing to give. 

Let me set the record straight, we all make mistakes. We all make choices that seem right at the time but in retrospect they were not the correct ones. Why have we become a society that has developed a less forgiving attitude? Zero tolerance is not the right way to deal with mistakes.

As the season comes to a close, I can remember several occasions over the past months that actions on and off the track have been made. At the moment, when they occurred, it seemed the whole season hinged on them. After a little time passed their significance has waned and we have moved on. Those are the ones that are easy to deal with. Other transgressions take on a life of their own.

Some are not truly mistakes but intentional creative rules interpretation. Penalties are levied and corrections are made. We move on or at least we are supposed to. Some of us have longer memories than others.

Some issues never seem to be dealt with and they linger and fester. These types affect relationships and are the most destructive. No matter what the situation was, when wrong choices are made they need to be corrected. The consequences need to be addressed and handled. We need to take responsibility for them and seek forgiveness. We then need to forget about it and move on. 

Forgive and forget; a familiar refrain, but one of the most difficult things for us to do. This is where pride, ego and arrogance rise to the surface. We dig in our heals and puff up our chest. We want to get back at the person who wronged us. 

We have a need to get even. We have our rights and no one is going to take advantage of us. We say that we forgive but we will never forget. We think it is our right to hold a grudge and determine what the punishment should be. We become judge and jury.

We tend to be unforgiving people when it comes to others, but we want to be forgiven when it comes to us. That is where we struggle to understand forgiveness. We struggle to grasp the magnitude of the burden that holding a grudge puts on us.

It can be hard to understand how someone like Erika Kirk can have the strength to forgive the man who assassinated her husband Charlie. That seems so hard of an effort, but without the release of forgiveness we bind ourselves to live in the prison of unforgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t about excusing or approving someone’s actions, it is about removing the burden of being the judge and jury. It frees us up to move forward and let God decide.

Romans 12:19; NLT; Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD. 

Let’s take a look at how God views this. God’s rules never change. His standard is always the same. God does not accept our sin, falling short, intentionally acting or talking in a way that doesn’t honor Him. God is right and just, transgressions are not something that God can accept. God says all transgressions are the same, big, small doesn’t matter, all transgressions fall into the category of sin, missing the mark. We all have made them and all will have to suffer the consequences.

Romans 8:23; There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

And the penalty is the same;

Romans 6:23a; For the wages of sin is death, 

But when we look at the rest of that verse and we start to see what God intends for us.

Romans 6:23b; but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.          

God said I will make a way for your mistakes to be forgiven; I will send My Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for you.

 John 3:16-18; “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

Keeping the peace is a difficult task. Have you ever thought about what it takes to be a peacemaker? Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker. He gave his life so that we could have peace with God. Jesus came, suffered, died and rose again so that the penalty for our sin would be paid in full. We can receive that payment by accepting it. It is a gift from God. 

Ephesians 2:8-9; For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. 

God provided this opportunity for forgiveness and we can receive it by accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. When we do we make peace with God, we restore our relationship with Him, and our sin is forgiven, remembered no more.

As the season comes to an end, take a look back and see if there are some people you need to forgive. We are expected to forgive as God forgave us. That means not because we deserve it but because He loves us. Forgive not because they deserve it, but because God forgave you. 

We cannot experience the full blessing of God if we refuse to forgive others. Our unwillingness to forgive implies that our standard is greater than God’s. That is not correct; God’s standard is the only one that counts. If God is willing to forgive you there is no reason we could have for not forgiving others. 

Make that commitment this week. Commit that you will go to the people you have refused to forgive and forgive them. Don’t worry if they refuse to accept it, many have refused to accept the forgiveness that God offers. We are not called to make people accept our forgiveness, but to offer the gift. Offer that gift to someone today.

Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Giving of ourselves to others is not something that comes naturally; we have to work at it. Many times it is a difficult choice between serving ourselves and serving others. As I look around I see many who have been serving us through this pandemic. I am thankful for them.

Thanksgiving gives us a time to reflect on all that God has blessed us with. We don’t have to look very far before we find something or someone we are thankful for. There are many this Thanksgiving that have lost everything, but yet they are thankful for the lives they have and their family and friends around them.

Many times we take for granted those who are here with us. We forget that in a moment all that we have can vanish, washed away. The things in life we hold so precious are nothing compared to the life we have been given and the lives we are a part of. Who are you thankful for? Go to them and let them know how much they mean to you.

Much of the grass roots racing depends on volunteers to do a good part of the work that goes into getting a car ready to race. Everyone connected with racing knows what it is like to give up sleep to work on the car. We are all familiar with seeing the inside of the garage more than the inside of your living room. We willfully give of ourselves to go racing.

Life has similar people who give of themselves for the benefit of others. Several groups come to my mind; our military, first responders, medical staff and hospitals. We are thankful for them all. Those in the military hold a special place in my heart. They offer up their life to secure our freedom. From the birth of our country there have been those who value our freedom and what America stands for so much that they have offered their life for it. 

As I thought about the things I was thankful for God came to mind. God provides us with a very special gift that cannot be bought. He provided us with His Love. Loving someone is an interesting thing, you cannot buy love. Love is offered but not always accepted.

God, in his infinite mercy, loves us. We are the most valuable part of his creation. He loves us so much he has taken steps to provide a way for us to have a relationship with Him, through Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for God’s tolerance. He allows me to choose the path my life takes and when it moves away from him he tolerates that. He doesn’t accept it and he makes an effort to draw my feet back onto the right path, but he doesn’t condemn me for choosing to go in the wrong direction.

How many people do you know that are as tolerant as God? I do not know of anyone. Jesus explained that he did not come into the world to condemn the world but to save it. That statement alone makes it clear to us that God is patient and tolerant. He loves us enough he sent his son to teach and guide us along the right path. No greater love than this that he lay down his life for his friends.

That is something to be thankful for, that while we still fall short of God’s plan for our lives; when we choose to go in a direction that leads away from God; when we choose to act in a way that dishonors God; He still loves us.

God provided the only sacrifice that could overcome our disobedience, His Son. He loved us so much that he made that available to us for the asking. Jesus came and gave His life so that we could have life. He paid the price for our sins. God presented it to us as a gift. We need only to receive it. Now that is something to be thankful for. 

Psalm 100 A psalm. For giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.