In this devotional post, I’ll simply share six thoughts on the subject of forgiveness. I trust they will be a blessing to help us in our horizontal relationships.
Forgiveness Can Be Complete Even If You Can’t Forget The Offense.
I can’t erase hurts from my memory, but I do remember choosing to forget them. Don’t let the presence of awkward feelings or the fact that we can’t completely forget the offense keep us from walking in forgiveness. Obey forgiveness by sheer will and eventually, our emotions will catch up.
Every time it surfaces, make the conscious statement to self: I have forgiven that offense and I will act as though it never happened. 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Do Not Wait Until The Other Person Asks For Forgiveness Before You Give It.
Choose immediately to forgive and do not allow unforgiveness to simmer in our soul. It’s a matter of personal heart health. You can thank me later for this tip. If you refuse to thank me, that’s okay too. I’ll simply forgive you. Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.
Christian, Walk In Forgiveness; Un-forgiveness Will Only Make You Bitter.
Don’t let it be the roadblock stopping us from following Christ. We can maintain a life of religious devotion to church attendance, tithing, and even acting moral, but we will not be able to hold on to un-forgiveness and follow Christ. “Be better, not bitter.” Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do”.
Forgiveness Is Not Minimizing The Offense And The Pain That Was Caused.
It is granted in spite of the offense and pain that it inflicted. Yes, the offense was great and the pain still runs deep. So were our offenses toward God, but in Christ, He has provided for our forgiveness and reconciliation with Him. Forgiveness is the beginning of heart healing. 2 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Forgiveness Doesn’t Necessarily Include Restoring Trust And Reconciling The Relationship.
The nature of some offenses teaches us better. An extreme example would be that of a family member found guilty of sexual misconduct with children. Though it would be necessary to forgive, I wouldn’t desire to build a friendship and take the individual on a family vacation. I might have to forgive a pedophile, but I don’t have to hire them as a children’s minister. 1 Timothy 1:1-2 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope, 2 To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Give forgiveness because you are going to need more in the future.
This final reason has to do with the fact that in our future, we will either accidentally or on purpose offend others. If in our relationships with others we are quick to forgive and not hold a grudge, it is highly likely that we will receive that treatment from others. Think about Luke 6:37-38 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38″Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
I will stop with six because it makes for a shorter post. However, there are many more thoughts that we could add to this list. I’m reminded though, that six is the number of mankind and to be honest, this issue of un-forgiveness is all about horizontal relationships between us mere mortals.
It is God’s will for His people to walk in forgiveness. Yes, it is sometimes very difficult, but we can do it with His help. Make up our mind that we will obey the facts of His Word. Place your faith in His ability to help. And drag our feelings through the process until they catch up.
What are our thoughts on these six? What would we immediately add to this list? Share in the comments and let’s help one another.
(Some Edits made, Scriptures added)
William Strickland
