Forgive Because I've Been Forgiven

Forgive Because I've Been Forgiven

In Colossians 3:13 I read, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others." (NLT)

When someone hurts me deeply, forgiveness probably isn’t my natural response. Instead, I may want to hold on to the hurt and to bitterness toward the person who caused me pain. But God calls me to forgive, to let go of the past, and release any bitterness toward the people who’ve hurt me.

In fact, the Bible gives three reasons I have to forgive. And those reasons have nothing to do with whether those people deserve my forgiveness or not.

I have to forgive those who’ve hurt me because God has forgiven me. Colossians 3:13 says, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT).  

If I want to be a forgiving person, I first need to accept the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. The Bible says that God came to Earth in human form in Jesus to forgive everything that’s ever been done wrong. Jesus paid for sin so I don’t have to. That’s the Good News.

I have to forgive those who’ve hurt me because, otherwise, resentment controls me. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Only fools get angry quickly and hold a grudge” (CEV).

Resentment makes me miserable, and it keeps me stuck in the past. And when I’m stuck in the past, I am controlled by the past. Every time I resent something, it controls me. Am I allowing someone who hurt me five, 10, or even 20 years ago to continue hurting me today? Make the choice right now to not continue to be hurt by what happened years ago. My past is past. I’ve got to let it go.

I have to forgive those who’ve hurt me because I’m going to need more forgiveness in the future. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (NIV).

Forgiveness is a two-way street. I cannot receive what I am unwilling to give. Someone once told John Wesley, “I could never forgive that person!” Wesley replied, “Then I hope you never sin.”

When hurts run deep, forgiveness is hard. But remember that I have three big reasons to forgive: God has already forgiven me, I don’t want to let resentment control me, and I will continue to need forgiveness in the future.

Choose to live in the freedom of forgiveness today.

In summary, when I’m hurt deeply, forgiveness isn’t my natural response. I want to hold on to the hurt and to bitterness toward the person. But God calls me to forgive, to let go of the past, and release any bitterness toward the people who’ve hurt me. The Bible gives three reasons I have to forgive. And those reasons have nothing to do with whether those people deserve my forgiveness or not. Forgive, because God has forgiven me. Accept the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. God came to Earth in human form in Jesus to forgive everything that’s ever been done wrong. Jesus paid for sin so I don’t have to. Forgive those who’ve hurt me, otherwise, resentment controls me. Resentment makes me miserable, and it keeps me stuck in the past. Every time I resent something, it controls me. So I need to make the choice right now to not continue to be hurt by what happened years ago. I have to forgive those who’ve hurt me because I’m going to need more forgiveness in the future. I cannot receive what I am unwilling to give. When hurts run deep, forgiveness is hard. I have three big reasons to forgive: God has already forgiven me, I don’t want to let resentment control me, and I will continue to need forgiveness in the future. Choose to live in the freedom of forgiveness today.

The key to forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven me. It should be so difficult to forgive someone who has wrong me a little when God has forgiven me for so much. Realize that God's infinite love and forgiveness can help me love and forgive others. Let God worry about the wrongs I've suffered. Don't quench my life in bitter feuding; live renewed in love and joy. 

God Forgives Because He’s Good

In Psalm 103:10, 12 I read, “He does not punish us as we deserve or repay us according to our sins and wrongs. As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us." (GNT)

God always gives me what I need, not what I deserve.

There is no end to east and west. God took my sins and just wiped them out.

When King David in the Bible committed adultery and then covered it up by having Bathsheba’s husband murdered, did David deserve to be forgiven? No. Did David deserve mercy? No. But David knew that God is a good God, and so he asked for mercy: “Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins! Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!” (Psalm 51:1-2 GNT)

When I sin, I can pray that same prayer. And I can pray confidently because it’s based on who God is, not on who I am or what I’ve done.

God forgives me, not because I’m good but because he is good. I don’t have to try to be good enough. In fact I’ll never be good enough! That’s what’s so amazing about God’s grace.

When I ask for God’s forgiveness, he forgives me immediately and completely. This is a big deal. Whatever I’ve done, God doesn’t reject me when I sin. He receives me with open, loving arms.

This is amazing because it’s the exact opposite of what people do. When I sin against someone, do they want to receive me back? Absolutely not. They want to be distant and push me away. They don’t want to receive me, because I’ve hurt them.

But God is love and full of goodness. He loves me because love is his nature. His goodness and his love are the reason I get what I need, not what I deserve.

I don’t deserve grace and forgiveness, none of us do. Thank God he gives it anyway!

In summary, God will not punish me as I deserve or repay me according to my sins and wrongs. As far as the east is to the west, He removes my sins from me. God always gives me what I need, not what I deserve. There is no end to east and west. God took my sins and just wiped them out. When King David committed adultery and then covered it up by having Bathsheba’s husband murdered, did David deserve to be forgiven or shown mercy? No. But David knew that God is a good God, and so he asked for mercy. He prayed “Be merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great mercy wipe away my sins! Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!” When I sin, I can pray that same prayer. And I can pray confidently because it’s based on who God is, not on who I am or what I’ve done. God forgives me, not because I’m good but because he is good. I don’t have to try to be good enough. When I ask for God’s forgiveness, he forgives me immediately and completely. God doesn’t reject me when I sin. He receives me with open, loving arms. This is the exact opposite of what people do. But God is love and full of goodness. He loves me because love is his nature. His goodness and his love are the reason I get what I need, not what I deserve. I don’t deserve grace and forgiveness, none of us do. Thank God he gives it anyway!

East and west never meet. This is a symbolic portrait of God's forgiveness, when he forgives my sins, he separates it from us and doesn't even remember it. I need to never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets. It's me who tends to dredge up the ugly past, but God has wiped my record clean. If I am to follow God, I must model his forgiveness. When I forgive others, I must also forget the sin. Otherwise, I have not truly forgiven.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives (including my job.) I pray all these things through you Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Forgive Others Because I Need Forgiveness

In review of Matthew 6:14-15 it says, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (NIV).

Today’s verses are Matthew 6:14-15. In them Jesus says, if you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.

In this passage Jesus gives a startling warning about forgiveness: If I refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive me. Why? Because when I don't forgive others, I am denying my common ground as a sinner in need of God's forgiveness. God's forgiveness of sin is not the direct result of my forgiving others, but it is based on my realizing what forgiveness means. It is easy to ask God for forgiveness but difficult to grant it to others. When I ask God to forgive me for sin, I should also consider if I have forgiven those who have wronged me?

Forgiveness is a two-way street. I can’t expect others to forgive me if I am unwilling to forgive them. Jesus says it like this: “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV). It’s a basic biblical truth. I reap what I sow. One time, a man came to John Wesley and said, “I could never forgive that person.” Wesley said, “Then I hope you never sin. When you are unforgiving, you’re burning the very bridge you need to walk across.” If I’m not forgiving of others, I’m setting myself up to not be forgiven myself. Here are three of the biggest misconceptions about forgiveness.

Forgiveness is not:

Minimizing the seriousness of the offense. Forgiveness is a big deal. To forgive someone doesn’t mean the wrong against you doesn’t hurt.

The instant restoration of trust. Trust must be rebuilt over a period of time. If people hurt me over and over again, the Bible says I’m obligated to forgive them, but I’m not obligated to instantly trust them.

Resuming the relationship without any changes. Forgiveness is not the same as a reunion of a relationship. Forgiveness is what I do if I’m offended. If the relationship is going to be restored, the offender has to do three things: repent, offer restitution where possible, and rebuild trust over a period of time.

It’s time to forgive those who have hurt me. I’ll need the forgiveness of others later. Don’t withhold what I’ll depend upon soon.

Bottom Line:

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

What this means to me:

God expects me to forgive like he does. When I forgive others, my heavenly Father will also forgive me.

In summary, If I forgive, my Father will forgive me. If I refuse, I will not be forgiven. To not forgive is denying my common ground as a sinner in need of God's forgiveness.When I ask for forgiveness, consider if I have forgiven others. After all I will reap what I sow. Forgiveness is not minimizing the seriousness of the offense, or the instant restoration of trust, or resuming the relationship without any changes.

Father the ultimate example of forgiveness comes from you. It is the character you ask me to take on to be more like your Son Jesus. I pray this morning for your wisdom in helping me discern and put together actions to address the myriad of open tasks I have. Help me to communicate and respond in a loving way with others. In your Son Jesus name I pray, amen!

Forgive Because I’m Forgiven

In review of Colossians 3:13 it says, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT).

Bottom Line:

Forgive as you have been forgiven.

What this means to me:

I need to always remember that the Lord forgave me, therefore I must forgive others.

Paul explains in Colossians 3 that I must put on my new nature, and be renewed as I learn to know my Creator and become like him. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in me. Since God chose me to be the holy person he love, I must clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I am to make allowances for others faults, and forgive anyone who offends me. Remember, the Lord forgave me, so I too must forgive others. Above all, clothe myself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in my heart. For as members of one body I am called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

To put on my new nature means that my conduct should match my faith. It's more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means taking the right actions. I need to rid myself of all evil practices and immorality. Then I can commit myself to what Christ teaches me. Also, I must remember that I'm in a continuing education program. The more I know of Christ and his work, the more I'm being changed to be like him. Because this is a lifelong process, I must never stop learning and obeying. There is no justification for drifting along, but there is an incentive to find the rich treasures of growing in him. It takes practice, ongoing review, patience, and concentration to keep in line with his will.

Paul offers me a strategy to help live for God day by day: (1) Imitate Christ's compassionate, forgiving attitude; (2) let love guide my life; (3) let the peace of Christ rule in my heart; (4) always be thankful; (5) Keep God's Word in me at all times; (6) live as Jesus Christ's representative.

The key to forgiving others is remembering how much God has forgiven me. Realization of God's infinite love and forgiveness can help me love and forgive others. Let God worry about the wrongs I've suffered. Don't quench my life in bitter feuding; live renewed in love and joy.

The Bible indicates that there are three reasons I am to let go of my past and the people who’ve hurt me, and the reasons have nothing to do with whether that person deserves it or not.

1. You have to forgive those who’ve hurt me because God has forgiven me. Colossians 3:13 says, “Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others” (NLT). If I want to be a forgiving person, I need to first accept the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. The Bible says that God came to Earth in human form in Jesus in order to offer forgiveness for everything that’s ever been done wrong. He paid for it so I don’t have to. That’s Good News.

2. You have to forgive those who’ve hurt you because resentment will control me. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 7:9, “Only fools get angry quickly and hold a grudge” (CEV). Resentment makes me miserable, and it keeps me stuck in the past. And when I’m stuck in the past, I’m controlled by the past. Every time I resent something, it controls me. Perhaps I’m allowing people who hurt me five, ten, or even twenty years ago to hurt me to this day. Don’t let it happen. They can’t hurt me anymore. My past is past. I’ve got to let it go.

3. You have to forgive those who’ve hurt me because I’m going to need more forgiveness in the future. Jesus said in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (NIV). Forgiveness is a two-way street. I cannot receive what I’m unwilling to give.

Someone once told John Wesley, the 18th-century British theologian, “I could never forgive that person!” Wesley replied, “Then I hope you never sin.” You don’t want to burn the bridge that you’ve got to walk across to get into Heaven.