Forgive As He Forgave

It seems like sooner or later everyone gets mistreated and
hurt. Many times the actions against us are unintentional, but other
times they can be extremely malicious. Suddenly, this hurt begins to
invade every other area of our life. We carry a heavy burden which
we know we don't deserve - and which we certainly don't desire to
keep - but it's a burden we can't seem to let go.

There is only one true way to relieve the burden of our hurt, and it
always begins with forgiveness. True forgiveness can be difficult
and require great humility. We want the other person to first ask
(maybe even beg) for our forgiveness. We would like them to admit
the hurt they caused; and, if we are honest, we probably would prefer
them to suffer...just a little. But this is not in God's plan.

Colossians 3:13
"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have
against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

If we have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, we have first come
face to face with our sinful nature. Without an understanding that
we are full of sin, we will never reach out for a savior. And if we
have experienced the true meaning of God's love, "while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8), we will be compelled to
forgive others. When we truly understand His forgiveness, we WILL
forgive others!

Jesus told a parable of a man who failed to forgive a small debt when
his master had just forgiven him a much greater debt: "'Shouldn't you
have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger
his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he
should pay back all he owed" (Matthew 18:33-34). Do we really
understand how much we have been forgiven? Or our inability to
repay? Yet our debt has been completely forgiven by grace through
faith in Jesus, and we are now commanded to forgive others.

God established the standard for forgiveness. We are not called to
forgive because someone deserves or has earned our forgiveness, we
are called to forgive simply because God first forgave us. When we
forgive, we must strive to make the forgiveness complete; "For I will
forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more"
(Hebrews 8:12). Though we may carry a healthy level of new caution
as the relationship continues, we must never place conditions on
maintaining our forgiveness.

There WILL be times when we are burdened with hurt. But let's not
seek revenge or try to withdraw and hide our pain. Let's follow the
commands of God's Word and be set free! Let's grow closer to our
Heavenly Father and see through His eyes. Let's share His love and
forgive as He forgave.

Have a Great Day!

Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries

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Scripture references: The Holy Bible: New International Version.
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Lorena, TX 76655
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