“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:8
I think it is safe to say that we have all struggled with forgiveness at some point. It can be a difficult thing to overcome.
People have hurt me at various points throughout my life and I have had to forgive them. I know that I am not alone. Others hurt and offend us at times. Forgiveness is difficult. It is especially difficult for me when my loved ones get hurt. Those offenses are hard to forgive. It always seems to be a little more difficult to forgive someone who hurts the people that we love.
Sometimes I have said that I forgive people, yet my actions say, “I forgive you… a little.”
“I forgive you… a little” is what I am saying when I withdraw from the person who hurt me.
Or during our next disagreement, if I remind the person about what they did to me, again I am saying, “I forgive you… a little.”
Maybe, I tell other people about what this person did to me even though I said that I forgave them. Yup, I am saying, “I forgive you… a little.”
That isn’t what Forgiveness looks like.
The scripture gives us a multitude of verses regarding forgiveness. Jesus tells us that when we pray, we are to forgive others. Typically, when we pray, we are asking for forgiveness. But Jesus says, if we want that forgiveness, we need to forgive others. “And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25.
If we lack forgiveness, the scripture tells us that God will not forgive us. And the reason He will not forgive us is that either we are not right with Him or we do not know Christ. “but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15.
A lack of forgiveness ruins friendships. “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” Proverbs 17:9.
We are to forgive over and over and over. “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22.
We are to forgive the way that Jesus did. “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32.
Jesus forgave over and over (Matthew 18:21-22).
He never brings our sins up again. He forgets it. “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Isaiah 43:25.
He forgave us once and for all. “Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit” 1 Peter 3:18.
God continues to forgive us. “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23.
What Christ accomplished on the cross was complete and total forgiveness for the sins of the world. We simply have to recognize how much we need His forgiveness, repent, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and God is faithful and just to forgive us. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9.
We try to take the place of God when we lack forgiveness. “There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:12.
Praise God that He doesn’t struggle with forgiveness the way that we do. God gave His only Son for our forgiveness. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish and will have ever lasting life” John 3:16″. Jesus paid our sin debt, in full. His words at the cross were, “It is finished.” “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit” John 19:30.
After all that God has done for us, how is it that we have the audacity to deny others forgiveness? He forgave everything that we have ever done, through the shed blood of His Son, and we have the nerve to be unforgiving when someone hurts or offends us?!?! Or we have the temerity (synonym for nerve ; D) to say “I forgive you… a little”?!?!
We need to remember who we were before Christ and even who we are today. After all that Christ has done to ensure our forgiveness, we continue to sin against Him daily!
God has forgiven us and, through us, desires to draw others to Himself so that He can forgive them as well. “18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19. How do we send others a message of reconciliation from the Lord, when we are ministers of unforgiveness?!?!
It is a command to forgive as we have been forgiven. Let’s do it! If not to restore our relationships, then to honor, glorify, and please our Heavenly Father!
Father in Heaven, I pray that You would humble our hearts today. I pray that we would have new, fresh eyes to see that You are the only judge and that forgiveness is not ours to withhold. Holy Spirit, work within us to cause a softening of our hearts toward those whom we have been unforgiving. Restore us, fully, to you Lord. We pray this in your precious and holy name, Jesus.
“Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9
If you do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior and you have been struggling with forgiveness or were afraid that God might not forgive you. Please, go to our Life Preserver page (https://forgiven-n-loved.com/life-preserver) and pray the prayer that is outlined there. Once you have please reach out to me at Forgiven-N-Loved.com and let me know so that I can be in prayer for you.
Not only does God want to forgive you, but He wants to heal your wounds and help you to have a heart of forgiveness. Please pray that prayer.
Luv Ya!
