As I am finally getting back into writing my story, “Second Chance on the Road,” I have been contemplating forgiveness. Not only is the main spiritual theme of that book about forgiveness, but there is something going on in my life right now that is making me think a lot about forgiveness, too.
The Bible talks a lot about forgiveness. It makes it clear that it’s very important.
Jesus died so we could be forgiven.
“And he [Jesus] took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins,'” Matthew 26:27-28, ESV.
If Jesus was willing to die a very painful death just so that we can be forgiven of every bad thing we’ve ever done (and every good thing we should have done but did not), that’s a huge deal. Would you be willing to die so someone who deserves eternal punishment would be forgiven?
Jesus forgives freely.
“To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him [Jesus] receives forgiveness of sins through his name,” Acts 10:43, ESV.
EVERYONE who believes can be forgiven. We see this when Jesus was hanging on the cross between two criminals. One mocks Him, the other says he deserves his punishment and asks Jesus to remember him in Heaven. Jesus says that the second man will join Him in Heaven, (Luke 23:39-43).
We are also supposed to forgive.
“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, and God in Christ forgave you,” (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV).
This is a hard one. We all like to be on the receiving end of forgiveness. We like having the slate wiped clean and our mistakes not counted against us.
But when it comes time for us to forgive someone who has hurt us? Not so easy. When someone hurts someone we care about? Nearly impossible.
As humans, we need to remember that forgiveness isn’t saying that what someone did is okay. Instead, it’s acknowledging the wrong, then saying, “But I won’t hold it against you.”
God loves us with an agape love. Agape is a Greek word showing a love that never wavers. It never changes due to circumstance. Oh, you stabbed me in the back? I still love you.
This sounds crazy, but that is exactly what Jesus did for us. Judas betrayed Him. His disciples scattered. Peter denied even knowing Him.
We fight and cause division in our churches, the bride of Christ. We divorce our spouses. We scream at our kids. We mar the Name of Jesus.
Yet He still loves and forgives us. Nothing in those examples is okay. But Jesus wipes our slate clean, and we should do the same for others.
Let’s be honest. As humans, that’s impossible to do. We cannot forgive as freely as Jesus does. When we are hurt, that is when we need to ask Jesus to help us forgive. He loves to answer that prayer. He loves to heal the hurts between people and mend broken relationships.
Unfortunately, just because we forgive someone doesn’t mean that our relationship will automatically be healed. It just means that we aren’t going to let bitterness destroy us from the inside out. It means we are kicking Satan to the curb and proclaiming that we are choosing to love like Jesus loves.
I confess, it’s hard. I have some situations in my life where I am constantly having to choose to forgive. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
I encourage you to take some time today to examine your heart today. Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive? Pray that the Spirit will help you. If you want someone to pray with you, just hit the contact tab above. I don’t need details, but I am happy to join forces with you in Jesus’ Name.
