Pastor Ben’s Ponderings

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father , forgive them, for they do not know what they do.’ And they divided His garments and cast lots.”         (Luke 23:34)

Ray Charles sang a song that said, “No, you’ll never know the one who loved you so. No, you don’t know me.” This love song to someone says, in essence, “If you could really know and understand me, you’d love me.”

When Jesus cried from the Cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” I believe another way of translating this could be, “Father, if they really knew Me and My love for them, they would not do this to me. Forgive them. They are just ignorant of My love.”

Do you think you’re misunderstood? We all are! The point is, we are to forgive and love like Jesus does. If people really knew your heart, they would love you, but guess what? They don’t and can’t. And if we really know their hearts, the things they’ve been through, the history of their heart’s journeys, we would show a lot more mercy and grace and forgiveness like Jesus did. He knew it all.

Let’s try to keep on loving and forgiving. Jesus knows your heart. He understands when you’re misunderstood, and He knows the hearts of those you think don’t understand you. We can’t fully know each other, but God does!