Forgiveness. To say that it is hard is an understatement. In fact, most of the Christians I speak with on a regular basis find it almost impossible. Why? It is because the people who have offended them are the people closest to them.
When a stranger sins against us it is almost expected. The offenses are slight and almost forgotten as soon as they occur. But when someone we know and love offends us or betrays us it cuts right to our heart. The closer the person is to us, the deeper the hurt when we are betrayed by them. So what are we to do? Here are a few ideas to get us headed in a biblical direction.
First, understand that God demands that we forgive others, no excuses and no exceptions. Jesus said it like this, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15). Inability to forgive someone of their sins against us is proof that we have received no forgiveness. Furthermore, God expects us to forgive others as he forgave us.
The Apostle Paul said, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). God expects us to model after our forgiveness after his. But what does that mean? Simply put, it means we forgive graciously. The person you need to forgive most likely does not deserve it. But neither did we deserve God’s forgiveness. Second, it means we forgive in abundance. We have all sinned against God on numerous occasions. But his promise remains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” (1 John 1:9a) But more than this, Jesus expects us to pursue reconciliation with those who have sinned against us (Matthew 5:23vv). When we were still sinners and did not pursue forgiveness from God, he pursued us.
You will never be more like God than when you are forgiving. I really hope this helps. We must be a forgiving people.
Love in Christ, Pastor Mitch
When a stranger sins against us it is almost expected. The offenses are slight and almost forgotten as soon as they occur. But when someone we know and love offends us or betrays us it cuts right to our heart. The closer the person is to us, the deeper the hurt when we are betrayed by them. So what are we to do? Here are a few ideas to get us headed in a biblical direction.
First, understand that God demands that we forgive others, no excuses and no exceptions. Jesus said it like this, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses (Matthew 6:14-15). Inability to forgive someone of their sins against us is proof that we have received no forgiveness. Furthermore, God expects us to forgive others as he forgave us.
The Apostle Paul said, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). God expects us to model after our forgiveness after his. But what does that mean? Simply put, it means we forgive graciously. The person you need to forgive most likely does not deserve it. But neither did we deserve God’s forgiveness. Second, it means we forgive in abundance. We have all sinned against God on numerous occasions. But his promise remains, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins…” (1 John 1:9a) But more than this, Jesus expects us to pursue reconciliation with those who have sinned against us (Matthew 5:23vv). When we were still sinners and did not pursue forgiveness from God, he pursued us.
You will never be more like God than when you are forgiving. I really hope this helps. We must be a forgiving people.
Love in Christ, Pastor Mitch
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