“Forgive To Be Forgiven”

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.”  Micah 7:18-19 (NIV)   We know that as Christians we are called to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven us. We talk about it all the time. But we also find that some things are just harder than others to forgive. We tend to rank wrongdoing on a scale of “little white lie” up to the big ten of the commandments. Surely fudging on an income tax return cannot be equated with murder or a crime such as rape? We dole out our forgiveness on a similar ranking system. There are large grievances, and those so small, they hardly seem to be worth mentioning.    It is highly important to remember that when we refuse (grudge holding) to forgive someone’s  wrongdoings, we actually enter into sin ourselves and we become separate from God.  We have all sinned and deserve God’s judgment. So what do we do when justice is not served? The Biblical answer is Romans 12:19. “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.

   The Benefits of Forgiving   The gospel is the most wonderful news there is!  Do you ever just stand back and marvel at what God has done by becoming Emanuel, “God with us”?  I get choked up just thinking about it.  He’s made you and I and our children His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19).  His life – His grace and truth, His perfect love and glorious identity – lives in our souls!  Of course, this is only possible because He’s forgiven us of our sins.  The sin of humanity’s first parents, Adam and Eve, has been passed onto to us and our children through our genetic code and we too have eaten the spoiled fruit of sin, choosing to hurt one another, ourselves, and our God who loves us so incredibly.   So why should we forgive? Well, for one thing, studies show that people who forgive are happier and healthier than those who hold resentments. (Campaign for Forgiveness research 2006.)

Scripture Regarding Forgiving:   Luke 6:37 “Do not judge and you will not be judged. Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.”   Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”   Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you your sins.”   Matthew 18:21 “Peter came to Jesus and asked “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered “I tell you, not seven times but seventy times seven times.”   Mark 11:25 “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your sins.”   Luke 23:34 “Jesus said” Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”     

Stay Blessed,

Charlotte L. Walker-McKinney