forgive... compound word.

To Forgive... Have you ever thought what the word forgive really means? Lets break it down, It's a compound word. For being the first word and Give to be last. For originally from the old english word Fore, meaning first in place, time, order, rank, etc.; forward; earlier. Then Give, meaning to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestowe. So it means to present voluntarily before there is a reason and without expecting anything in return. But wait, that doesn't sound like the way people or I forgive someone. I usually forgive someone after they have given me a reason to respond. Or as the dictionary defines it; to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
The definition is good, but that isn't the root of the word. ( If you haven't figured it out, we are doing a little word study here) Be patient, I will get to the point. It's just interesting that we use a word that means to pardon someone before there is a reason, to define a reaction for being wronged.

Here is an example of how we do this same thing in a different environment. When we go in a restaurant we sit down and order our food from a waiter. The waiter brings the food out, then gives us everything we need to enjoy our meal. Then we pay for the food and tip our waiter for there services, (sometime very handsomely if they were really good.) But, did you know that the word TIPs actually means, To. Insure. Proper. Service? So we are actually supposed to tip before the meal, so that we get the best possible service. Isn't it funny how our expectations can be so backwards. The waiter has to speculate that if he/she gives you great service, your tip will be worth all the hard work.


So we could decide to forgive before there is a reason to. We could forgive even if they don't deserve it and without conditions. Rather than saying " I will forgive you, but if you ever...." fill in the rest.  You could say " I love you, and we all make mistakes" We need to realize we are not the judge or the jury. We are not to decide what someone deserves or doesn't deserve. We are just to love one another. We all bleed, poop, cry, get hungry, get angry. And we all need love, it is the only thing we deserve. But we don't deserve Love because, we are good. But, because Jesus first loved us. Yes, he loves you too, even if you think you hate him. But, I guarantee that you don't know Jesus. You might know his name and some people that might say they know him. But, you don't truly know him. Because if you did, there would be a nagging feeling inside of you to find out about him and read his words.You would search to find why, someone who lived 2000 years ago, would gladly lay down his life and die as a martyr, just so he could show you and me how much love he has for us. He forgave us before there was a reason to forgive us. That is called Grace. Jesus gives us freedom and love and compassion we don't deserve. He worked so hard to be the image of perfect love, just like that waiter works so hard for your payment. Jesus doesn't want a payment for all his work, he has already paid the bill for you. That is what it means to FORGIVE