July 10, 2022
Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34
“God forgave all our sins. He canceled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules and nailed it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, and forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32
I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments. Psalm 119:45
Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No!” Jesus replied, “seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:21-22
Forgiveness is the heartbeat of the Christian life. It is at the center of God’s heart because He chose relationships above everything else. Forgiveness restores God’s standard because it is the only way in which a relationship is restored, although God Himself was justified to hold the offense! None of us deserved forgiveness, yet God freely forgave us because of His great love for us. We all have fallen short, and God’s desire is for us to be like our Father and extend that same mercy to others. We must forgive others just as our Father has forgiven us.
Let’s be real, forgiving when you have been wounded is not always an easy thing to do. However, as Christians, the Word of God has commanded us to forgive those who have wronged us and to seek forgiveness when we have wronged others. Nowhere in the Word of God, are we commanded to Forget! To forgive others means we give up the right in our attempt to punish them or hold the offense(s) against them.
Also, let’s be real again! God never said that you have to feel like forgiving. When it comes to forgiving others, you cannot rely on your feeling. In fact, when it comes to forgiving others, your feelings are irrelevant. Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice. It is an independent act between you and God, totally separate from the response or reaction of the person you are forgiving. We are not responsible for how they respond. But we are responsible to God for how we respond! But when you hold on to the hurt, you are refusing to truly forgive, and it becomes a blockage for God working in your life. We have received God’s mercy and received His grace, who are we not to give grace to others in return. When we fully comprehend the greatness of God’s gift to us, we will pass the gift along to others.
God’s forgiveness to us is not based on our works. No brownie points here! Forgiveness and
Salvation were instituted completely in the person of God and by Jesus and His redeeming work on the cross. However, our actions demonstrate our faith and the extent to which we understand God’s grace. Although we are completely unworthy, Jesus chose to pay the price for our sins and to give us forgiveness because of His great love for us. He loved us when we were sinners and did have the sense to love ourselves. The Apostle Paul in Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Many Christians are not walking in freedom and purpose and experiencing the full benefits of their relationship with Christ because of their unforgiveness. Many people are angry and don’t even realize they are angry. As a Registered Nurse for over 35 years, especially working in critical care and psychiatric nursing, it became evident that some patients with medical conditions especially chronic medical conditions were often precipitated by spiritual issues, such as unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, and resentment. Unforgiveness specifically can make you feel irritated, cold, rigid, bitter, and indignant. The impact of unforgiveness can be physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. In my recent research, it was noted that 1 in 4 Christians struggle with unforgiveness. Refusing to forgive does not hurt the other person, it hurts the person who refuses to forgive. The inability to forgive is dangerous because of the insidiousness of its deadly and toxic effects. It causes health problems, emotional issues, and addictions. Unforgiveness is a major blockage in the life of Believers in Christ as well as unbelievers.
The concept of Forgiveness is misunderstood by many in the Body of Christ and non-believers. It is most often misused, misapplied, and misinterpreted. How would you answer the following statement:
true or false?
♦ Forgiveness includes restoring trust and reuniting a relationship.
♦ You haven’t really forgiven until you’ve forgotten the offense.
♦ A person should not be forgiven until he or she asks for it.
♦ Forgiving includes minimizing the offense and the pain caused.
♦ When someone hurts you, it is your duty to forgive the offender.
S. Lewis says: “Real forgiveness means looking steadily at the sin, the sin that is left over without any excuse after all allowances have been made and seeing it in all its horror, dirt, meanness, and malice, and nevertheless being wholly reconciled to the man who has done it! That and only that is forgiveness.”
Forgiveness is a Decision of the Will. As Believers in Christ, unforgiveness is not an option. Since God commands us to forgive, we must make a conscious choice to obey God and forgive. Those who hurt or wounded you may not desire forgiveness and may not ever change, but that doesn’t contradict God’s will that you have a forgiving spirit. God says in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, (NKJV). You must forgive even if the person who hurt or wounded you does not seek reconciliation, you must decide to forgive. Make that decision TODAY to Forgive!
RX: A FORGIVING ♥️ HEART: You do not need to live in the prison of Unforgiveness. Jesus died so that God’s forgiveness would be freely available to us. A Christian who is not willing to forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered as noted in Matthew 6:15 “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (NKJV). We must realize that God is the one who has been wronged by our sin. When we refuse to forgive, we will reap and can reap bitterness and the loss of reward noted in Hebrews 12:14-15, “Work at living in peace with everyone and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” (NLT)
FATHER GOD: Thank You for Your gift of forgiveness and for reminding us that if we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. Thank you for Your Word in 1 John 1:9, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” Father, thank You for Your cleansing and restorative power and Your power to unite families, in the Precious, Powerful and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, Amen!