‘Please forgive me’ are sometimes the hardest words to come out of our mouth. Yet, to the hearer, they are powerfully impacting and very hard to ignore or refuse response. We have all found ourselves on both sides of the fence; on one hand knowing we need to ask someone’s forgiveness and on the other hand, hurting and longing for the one who has offended us to just say, ‘Sorry’, and ask for forgiveness.
Many people believe that there is a God, but this belief has no real impact on their day-to-day lives. People also have many theories on life. Some people say that everything happens for a reason. Some believe in destiny or fate; that things are just going to happen no matter what you do. Others believe in Karma, where in life you get what you deserve. Some believe in ‘luck’ and are extremely superstitious, whereas others say that there is no meaning in life; everything is just random and happens by chance.
Traditionally, the word ‘redemption’ has been used to simply describe the price Christ paid as a ransom to rescue us from judgement for sin. This is only a small part of a much larger story that begins beyond time and eternity. Redemption is the process and the cost by which we are begotten as God’s sons in the Father’s bosom, and given a share in the inheritance of His firstborn Son.
We have been considering the way of offering for many years now. This is a never-ending pursuit because it plumbs the depths of God Himself. Offering is the way that God lives. And offering is the way that God gives. There is no other way of life for a Christian. Hence, we have titled this book A Life of Offering.
The word ‘righteousness’ describes the capacity to be who we really are, and to do what belongs to our identity. God is righteous because He is always fully Himself, doing what belongs to His being. Through faith, we receive His righteousness, enabling us to be sons of God, and to manifest righteousness in fulfilling what He has planned for us.
