No offense?

This morning I was working through (again...) 
what forgiveness looks like....    

I read somewhere, 
"Forgiveness is not absolving of the 'crime' but
letting go of the Offense."    

Jesus forgave those crucifying him ref Lk 23:34
and
He Commanded us to love our enemies ref Matt 5:44

I have heard it said that the
'tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil'
is the 'tree of Judgement'

and that this is the 'becoming like God' part....

For God alone judges without it affecting his love and forgiveness

When I see the world through 'judgement eyes'
I cannot forgive
and eventually I actually reap judgement onto myself.
the good and evil 'boomerang'!

Letting go of Offense.....

When I know that I am loved and accepted
by my Father,
Others can hurt me
but I need not be
Offended.....

Those crucifying Jesus were brutal abusers....
And after He declared forgiveness there was no change in their actions....

Yet there was no offense taken by Jesus.

Forgiven.

Father,
This is digging into my core values...
This understanding of
Offense
Judgement
Forgiveness.

And when I eat of the tree of You...
Life...
I need not
Judge.

I can forgive

Wow.

PJ