Many times in life we experience offenses when we are hurt or disappointed. In relationships there are times that we hurt each other or threaten to say or do things that usually are from the heat of the moment but do reveal latent wounds.
In those situations when we are the victim rather than the perpetrator, our response may be “Go right ahead!” or “Be my guest!” when actually we are not giving permission at all; but rather giving the allusion that we grant permission knowing that our response in itself is a threat that carries its own consequences.
Consider a man who experienced the ultimate betrayal and yet released permission to his betrayer that was true permission; a release that not only fully gave the betrayer permission to do the deed, but in its giving released the one betrayed from the power of offense.
Allow me to explain. Many years ago a man became quite well known in his community as one who could perform miracles in the name of God but was not a part of the religious system. There were a few people who wanted to be close to him, joined his group and were mentored closely by him for years.
It may be difficult for us to fathom the sincerity with which this man poured himself into his little band of followers; putting up with their inability to grasp many of the concepts he taught them, and their seeming need for position and self promotion. If you have never been involved in a mentoring relationship the idea of being closely discipled by a peer may seem a foreign concept and the painful experience of being “sharpened” by another may be hard to imagine. But this man continued to give himself and tried with everything in him to help his followers see the truth of what he taught them and translate that truth into how they lived.
Then on a day that seemed just like all the rest, the group gathered for a celebration and a meal. Eating together was a regular practice and intimate conversation at the table or around a fire was normal if not expected. But on this day, just after finishing the main course of the dinner, this man handed a piece of bread that he had just dipped in oil to one of his followers with this parting message: “What you are going to do, do it even more quickly than you have intended. Go now, act swiftly.”
What I find most unusual about this incident is not so much the instruction to go ahead and do what was planned, but what happened once this receiver of the bread left the room. I am sure if you have been alive for more than twelve years you have experienced a friend or family member turning on you and behaving in a way toward you that has disappointed you or broken your heart. But how many times after having been the victim of misuse or abuse have you not mentioned it again to anyone.
In the instance of this man who not only gave permission to his follower whom the man knew was going to betray him; but once the act was sealed in the follower’s heart and this follower left the room on his way to betray his teacher, this man did not then turn and inform his “true” friends still sitting with him of what just happened. He did not begin to tearfully explain how this so called friend was really a scum bag who at that very moment was betraying him to people who would ultimately take his life.
No this man was different from you and me. He covered his friend and his friend’s selfish act and loveless behavior completely. When he said, “Go and do what you have planned,” he meant it and when he gave permission it wasn’t flowery language that was intended to make him look good to those in the room. It was spoken earnestly, quietly, to the intended hearer with complete purity and heart, void of ulterior motive. He truly gave permission to this betrayer, with love and forgiveness attached.
I’ve read the Ancient Writings of the Scriptures many times while on this spiritual journey and the reality of the saying that the Word is alive has never been more true to me than in this story. Never having seen this in this light before I can honestly say that I was shaken to my core when the reality of the weight of this act was revealed to me.
You see, when this man sincerely released his betrayer from a pure heart he rendered powerless the effect of the coming betrayal. Consider the words that followed: “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in Him;” Not later, now. Not after some other hoop jumping or behavior modification, but now.
Oh, that we could come to terms with giving permission, with grasping the concept that the enemy is simply a tool in the hands of the Living God. There is nothing that can happen to us, or in us that is not ultimately for our good. And when we can look over our lives and recognize that no matter who hurt us, betrayed us, or used us, or abused us, if we just release permission with a heart open to God to receive the full benefit of the experience (which is His intent in allowing anything) we render totally powerless the plan of the enemy and glorify God in a way that only responding like our Saviour and King can.
There is no time limitation in the spiritual kingdom. If there is a place in your own life that needs to be healed, ask He Who Loves You Most to take you there, and upon arrival while facing your source of pain, simply respond with PERMISSION GRANTED and be free!
