Saturday June 24th, 2023
« Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. »
12 You are the people of God; He loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
13 Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.
14 And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity.
15 The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.
To forgive is to decide to reject feelings of resentment between you and a person who has wronged you.
This isn’t always easy, especially when a person has really hurt and trampled on you.
However, forgiveness is a mandate for Christians; no one can profess to be a genuine Christian and not live a lifestyle of forgiveness.
Our Lord said to us in Matthew 6:15: NLT
« But if you don’t forgive people, your Father will not forgive your wrongdoing. »
This verse clearly states what happens when we refuse to forgive anyone who wrongs us: we too will not be forgiven by our heavenly Father.
In other words, forgiving our offenders isn’t just an instruction to be obeyed; it is a matter of life or death for us, because if our sins are not forgiven, then we are doomed eternally.
Unforgiveness is therefore not something to be toyed with at all.
As partakers of His divine nature, God expects our forgiveness to take on the character of His forgiveness.
For example, the Holy Spirit says in Jeremiah 31:34 CEV
« No longer will they have to teach one another to obey me. I, the LORD, promise that all of them will obey me, ordinary people and rulers alike. I will forgive their sins and forget the evil things they have done. »
This verse is telling us that forgiveness should not be temporary. In other words, when you forgive, God expects you to forgive once and for all.
As a child of God therefore, you don’t see someone you supposedly forgave months ago and immediately feel resentment for that fellow.
When you forgive someone, you forever let go of every hurt and pain that the fellow caused you.
Another character of forgiveness is that it takes just one person to forgive.
Forgiveness is not the same as reconciliation where the two parties involved are required to meet and make up.
With forgiveness, you don’t have to wait for the person who offended you to come and apologies for whatever they did.
You have to forgive even before being asked.
Forgiveness is not about the person who offended you; it is about you and your relationship with God.
Forgiveness is not easy.
In fact, it can be extremely difficult to forgive, but as a Christian, you are required to forgive no matter how hard it is.
Are you walking in forgiveness?
Application: Has anyone offended you? Forgive them today.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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