Feelings Are Real

Heb. 4:15 "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."  

When we read this verse in the King James version it says that our High Priest (Jesus)  is touched by the "feelings of our infirmities".  He is touched or He feels what we feel.  He feels the feelings of our infirmities.  that word "infirmities" or "weaknesses" literally means in the body or the MIND.  As a matter of fact most of our weaknesses originate in the mind or our thought life.  While we strive for perfection in our walk with Jesus, "we hold this treasure in earthen vessels."  While we don't want to give ourselves excuses for not improving, we still need to walk in grace toward others and ourselves. Too many people seem to extend grace and forgiveness externally more than internally.  I believe that the time it takes to forgive oneself says a lot about our level of maturity in Christ.  I'm not talking about cheap grace here.  Grace was terribly expensive, but it was paid in full by Jesus and His efforts, not by ours.  The quicker we forgive ourselves the more we understand the forgiveness of God.  How quickly should we forgive others?  Instantaneously!  How quickly should we forgive ourselves?  Instantaneously!  The "feelings" that we need to take some time to forgive so that the person being forgiven learns their lesson are not feelings of God.  We are playing God trying to "teach them a lesson."  When we delay forgiving ourselves we are in the same way denying the forgiving power of Jesus.  Jesus paid it all!  Certainly, "Godly sorrow brings repentance" but that doesn't have to be a protracted process and certainly not a process brought about by human works.  Forgiveness is a miraculous act of great Grace that comes from Jesus in and through us externally toward others and internally toward ourselves.  While we are talking about feelings, feelings have nothing to do with forgiveness.  Forgiveness is an act on our part, an act of obedience that releases the supernatural power of forgiveness.  Feelings follow obedience and not the other way around.