Forgiveness and Obedience

Photo: ‘Where Have You Been‘ Copyright 2016 Frank J CasellaThe moon hides behind the clouds of the morning sky in the forest.

I think these words are both simple yet profound, because they are easy to understand and agree with, yet not so easy to live:

Forgiveness is releasing the other person from the debt that they owe you. Forgiveness does not mean that what they did was permissible. It does not mean that you must be their best friend. It does not mean that you even must address the person directly. Forgiveness is freeing your heart to live and love in the measure God created you.

Obedience can have a negative connotation in our culture today because everyone wants to be “free”. We interpret freedom as doing what we want to do. In the spiritual life, freedom comes when we are obedient to God’s will. Obedience comes from a Latin word which means “to listen”. When we listen to God’s voice and are obedient to Him, we find true freedom … Sin can be defined as “I want what I want right now.” Holiness can be defined as “I want what God wants when He wants it.” Obedience to God leads to holiness, which in turn leads to happiness, which we all seek.

Our lives are a work in progress.

2 replies on “Forgiveness and Obedience”

  1. I stumbled on your feed when I found your “Email Is the Biggest Social Media Network” article and browsed the rest. You are a great photography and I appreciate your genuine and heartfelt faith and how you apply that faith through what I have seen of you so far.

    These Vivaldi blogs may not have a huge viewership yet but finding this article was something I needed at just the right time.

    Keep up the good work.

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