Forgiveness

What is it? How does it work? How do you make it last? I have been talking with several people about this in the past couple of days and weeks. From my study of the word, forgiveness is a gift that we give someone. We cannot fully accept forgiveness from someone or successfully give it unless we come to fully understand that God has forgiven us. God has called us to forgive, “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 5:32). Have you thought lately about the forgiveness that Christ has given to you? He gives it, and we mess up time and time and time again, yet when we go to Him and repent, we are still forgiven. Do we treat others like this? I know I haven’t in the past. Are we called to continually forgive time and time and time again? Yes. Is it hard? Yes. Is it necessary for the edification and sanctification of the body of Christ? Yes. Even if you are to forgive someone who isn’t a Christian, by you forgiving that person, it allows you to be closer to the Lord because you do not have that unforgiveness in your heart that separates you from God. Many people have a difficult time forgiving someone who has hurt them in their past. There are people all around us who have had abominable sins committed against them, if they are a follower of Jesus are they still called to forgive that person who committed that sin? Yes. Is that counter-cultural? Absolutely. Another question is raised once we come to the point where we can forgive. What if the other person is not repentant of their sin and yet we are ready to forgive them? What does our relationship look like after the forgiveness happens? Do we just go back to the way things were before they hurt us? I don’t think so. I think the Lord can give us discernment in how we are supposed to treat that person and how much of an influence they can have on our lives. An example would be if your child was molested by a close family friend. It could possibly be a long and difficult path to forgiving that person, but once you have done so, the Lord will give you the common sense to not ask this person to baby-sit for you! Forgiveness is a tough thing to do, and making sure that when you do forgive that it is lasting is that much more difficult.

I am not saying it is easy and I am definitely not saying that I have mastered this mandate, but these are things that I have learned. Tell me your opinions and/or experiences.