Why? Why forgive?
The most simple and basic reason that heaven presents to us is this: We forgive, because we have been forgiven.
The scriptures say it this way:
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).”
This scripture is telling us to stop and to exercise a bit of self-reflection regarding how repeatedly—and how relentlessly—we have availed ourselves of the grace and the mercy of God.
I don’t know about you, but for me, it seems that mercy is necessary for my every waking moment.
The sheer volume of forgiveness that is enacted on my behalf from Him is staggering!
When we begin to see the command to forgive in the light of this true context, it indeed begins to become a source of healing.
Granted, some hurts will take longer than others to heal.
CS Lewis once said that he prayed for over 30 years the prayer of forgiveness over someone who had wronged him.
He would wake up morning after morning and the hurt was still with him. So, he offered the prayer again and again—day after day.
One morning, some 30 years later, he woke up and the prayer mysteriously took hold.
It was finally over.
I am not asking for us to feel better about an offense, but rather to step over into that virgin territory of obedience and give it a go.
We will find help with this obedience in Jesus and God will cheer the smallest of efforts.
So often, we want to hold on to the hurt and we use it to be bitter and angry. Why?
There is so much life to live; and hanging on to hurt only takes life away.
Going home to a spouse becomes difficult because you won’t face them or you just decide to be angry and not talk.
You find yourself hiding in stores when you see that person who has wronged you. You begin avoiding them in crowds. So silly and shameful.
Forgive as you have been forgiven! Release them and there by release yourself. LIVE!
I love you all,
Go give em Heaven,
Pastor Scott
The most simple and basic reason that heaven presents to us is this: We forgive, because we have been forgiven.
The scriptures say it this way:
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Colossians 3:13).”
This scripture is telling us to stop and to exercise a bit of self-reflection regarding how repeatedly—and how relentlessly—we have availed ourselves of the grace and the mercy of God.
I don’t know about you, but for me, it seems that mercy is necessary for my every waking moment.
The sheer volume of forgiveness that is enacted on my behalf from Him is staggering!
When we begin to see the command to forgive in the light of this true context, it indeed begins to become a source of healing.
Granted, some hurts will take longer than others to heal.
CS Lewis once said that he prayed for over 30 years the prayer of forgiveness over someone who had wronged him.
He would wake up morning after morning and the hurt was still with him. So, he offered the prayer again and again—day after day.
One morning, some 30 years later, he woke up and the prayer mysteriously took hold.
It was finally over.
I am not asking for us to feel better about an offense, but rather to step over into that virgin territory of obedience and give it a go.
We will find help with this obedience in Jesus and God will cheer the smallest of efforts.
So often, we want to hold on to the hurt and we use it to be bitter and angry. Why?
There is so much life to live; and hanging on to hurt only takes life away.
Going home to a spouse becomes difficult because you won’t face them or you just decide to be angry and not talk.
You find yourself hiding in stores when you see that person who has wronged you. You begin avoiding them in crowds. So silly and shameful.
Forgive as you have been forgiven! Release them and there by release yourself. LIVE!
I love you all,
Go give em Heaven,
Pastor Scott
1 Comment
Today is the day I have kneeled before my one father to completely forgive a person I have held so much anger and hatred for for so many years because it's a weight I no longer fill the need to carry on my shoulders. This passage hit home for me and for that I thank you. I finally will have peace within by this forgiveness not just to him but to myself for carrying all of these years