Forgiving: A Christian Duty

Chuckle:  "I just had skylights put in my place. The people who live above me are furious!" 

Good Quote: "It is by forgiving that one is forgiven."  --Mother Teresa of Calcutta

FORGIVING: A CHRISTIAN DUTY!

    "You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony" (Colossians 3:13-14 NLT).

Many of us often find it is most difficult to forgive those who have treated us in an unkind or hostile way.  Forgiveness is the act of pardoning an offender in spite of the offender's shortcomings and errors.  It's the last thing Jesus did on the cross! "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34 NIV).

When we exercise genuine forgiveness, it frees us from the most powerful bondage we can experience.  Jesus didn't say we are to forgive if we feel like it.  He said it is a duty and no limit can be set on the extent of forgiveness.  It must be granted without reservations or conditions -- by faith and not feelings.

    "I'm warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him" (Luke 17:3-4 NLT).

One of the most effective tools the evil one uses to steal our joy is unforgiveness.  With just a little foothold of unforgiveness in our lives, we can easily become bound with chains of bitterness, resentment, anger and rage.  If we let that foothold linger without dealing with it, eventually it will lead to our own self-destruction.  But forgiving sets you free.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:15, NLT, that words and emotions can get out of hand -- even among Christians. "But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another."  When this happens, feelings get hurt, friendships are destroyed, the church becomes divided, and the body of Christ suffers.  It is crucial that each of us asks the Lord daily to help us to "be kind to each another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:32 NLT).

    A man named John Oglethorpe, in talking with John Wesley, once made the comment, "I never forgive."  Mr. Wesley wisely replied, "Then, Sir, I hope that you never sin."  --Illustrations for Biblical Preaching; Edited by Michael P. Green. 


Love, Jerry & Dotse