TAP OUT
Wayne Wilson
Today's Scripture: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37, ESV
Theme: Forgiveness
REAL FORGIVENESS
Relationships can’t really endure without it. Eventually everyone will need it to sustain a relationship with someone: forgiveness. Pops (played by Nick Nolte in “The Warrior”) comes to his youngest son’s house looking for it. He wants a relationship with his sons. Tommy (his eldest) came back, not for a relationship but for his help. Though he has been sobered for years, his sons are not ready to forgive. Brendan says he forgives, but he does not trust Pops to be around his family. There is some doubt (in Pops’ mind) if this is real forgiveness.
Brendan and Tommy hold on to hurt, disappointment, and anger at the choices they had to make as children to either stay with Pops or leave with their mother. They chose different paths. On the beach before the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) tournament begins, they argue about who owes who the apology? Tommy feels abandoned by Brendan for not coming with him and their mother; Brendan feels betrayed and abandoned by Tommy and his mother for leaving him with Pops. Again Brendan says the words, “I forgive you” on the beach, but it is not complete. He doesn’t find complete forgiveness in his heart until the final fight in the cage with Tommy. When he says the words, “I love you” in the final scenes, he has found it. There is healing.
FORGIVING IS CONDITIONAL
When Jesus’ disciples ask Him to teach them to pray as He prays, He gives them a formula or a script. Within this model for praying is this essential component of forgiveness: “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12, ESV). It is a reality that you cannot have one without the other. You cannot be the recipient of forgiveness if you cannot or will not give it. I am convinced this is a heart or emotional condition. If you cannot or will not give, your heart is closed off and unable to receive the gift of having your debts forgiven.
Jesus is also quoted by the disciple Luke as having instructed, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:37-38, ESV). There seems to be principle at work here. It is a law of reciprocity. What comes back to you is what you give. You set the conditions by what you offer others, not by what you first get from others.
In relationships, there is a “you go first” principle. It’s a powerful final scene in “The Warrior” and quite descriptive of this principle. Brendan has Tommy in a hold capable of breaking bones, yet instead of harming him, he quietly repeats, “I love you. I love you.” Finally, Tommy “taps out” and receives forgiveness.
Make it Personal: You know you can feel it. That tight fisted unwillingness to let go. The self-righteous anger that needs to be validated, to be right! The power of the right to be cling to the hurt because you were the one wronged! It’s hard to give up, isn’t it? That act of will, however, is the meaning of “for-give.” To give up or to give over what is rightfully owed to you. You can let go. God is like Brendan in the final scene of the Warrior saying to you, “I love you. I love you. I love you.” It is your choice…tap out!
Pray: I’m tapping out, Papa. I love You, too. Thank You for forgiving me and for coming to seek me out. You have sacrificed everything to rescue me from myself. I’m ready to come home. Hold my battered and beaten body and soul as Brendan did for Tommy as they left the arena in the movie. Thank You. In Your Son’s Name. Amen.
Read: Matthew 6:14; Mark 4:24; Romans 14:13
Weekly Memory Verse: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 (ESV)