Forgiveness. It's one of the hardest endeavors; yet, it can bring us to the path of blessings.
Forgiveness is difficult primarily because of pride. Pride is always the wall that hinders us from putting on the character of Christ and, thus, keeps us from the path of blessings.
The Bible exhorts us to "be merciful just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). Mercy is an act of blessing. To withhold it from someone is to reject it from God.
Forgiveness is a spiritual blessing that opens the door to other kinds of blessing. Prov 19:11 reads: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his GLORY to overlook an offense" (capitalization mine). Contrary to this, if we are unable to forgive, we become bitter, angry, vindictive; which makes us numb to healthy relationships and blind to opportunities.
When asked by Peter how many times should he forgive an offense, Jesus answered him, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matt 18:22 NIV). Yet, it is not from the mouth whence forgiveness should begin, but from the heart, for forgiveness is an issue of the heart.
It is the fruit of character. It arises out of intimacy with the author of love, Jesus Christ. Without love, it is impossible to forgive from the heart. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son ..." It was this same love that caused Jesus to cry out from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
It is out of this same love that God exhorts us to forgive. To not forgive is to be bitter. To forgive is to become someone better.
Forgiveness is difficult primarily because of pride. Pride is always the wall that hinders us from putting on the character of Christ and, thus, keeps us from the path of blessings.
The Bible exhorts us to "be merciful just as your Father is merciful" (Luke 6:36). Mercy is an act of blessing. To withhold it from someone is to reject it from God.
Forgiveness is a spiritual blessing that opens the door to other kinds of blessing. Prov 19:11 reads: "A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his GLORY to overlook an offense" (capitalization mine). Contrary to this, if we are unable to forgive, we become bitter, angry, vindictive; which makes us numb to healthy relationships and blind to opportunities.
When asked by Peter how many times should he forgive an offense, Jesus answered him, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times" (Matt 18:22 NIV). Yet, it is not from the mouth whence forgiveness should begin, but from the heart, for forgiveness is an issue of the heart.
It is the fruit of character. It arises out of intimacy with the author of love, Jesus Christ. Without love, it is impossible to forgive from the heart. John 3:16 tells us, "For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son ..." It was this same love that caused Jesus to cry out from the cross, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."
It is out of this same love that God exhorts us to forgive. To not forgive is to be bitter. To forgive is to become someone better.
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