Pardon Me

By Cheri Cowell –

The other day I ran across these idioms for the phrase “pardon me.”

Pardon me, what did you say your name was?

I beg your pardon! I didn’t see your foot there!

Pardon me; does this train go to Oakland?

Pardon me, but I think you’ve got it backwards.

In each of these, the word pardon means, “excuse me.” In some of them you can hear the sarcasm dripping from the words. In some you can hear the formality and see the raised chin as the person speaking looks down upon you.

Isaiah used the word pardon when he spoke of God’s willingness to excuse. If you listen, you can also hear the meaning behind the words. Some translations render the word pardon as forgive, but it is the word before pardon or forgive that adds the context and meaning. That word is freely, abundantly, or lavishly. When you and I give up our way and accept God’s, our God doesn’t simply excuse us, nor does He only forgive or pardon (although that is a big deal). No, our God freely excuses, abundantly pardons, and lavishly forgives.

Do you hear the love behind those words?

“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7 NIV).

PRAYER: God, thank You for freely excusing, abundantly pardoning, and lavishly forgiving me. Help me hear the real love behind these words today.