Forgiveness

Whether intentional or unintentional, our actions can affect others negatively.

As human beings we make mistakes and more often we end up hurting those around us. Our actions, inactions, words and associations can have negative consequences. The outcome not only hurts others, but also their businesses, careers and relationships.

Negative actions have ruined people’s careers in so many ways. One can lose his job or get demoted because of conspiracy from a co-worker. company property or products got lost or damaged and the wrong person was blamed. Still many people have had their businesses make losses or even shut down because of the actions of jealous competitors.

The family which is God’s first institution is not exempt from such situations. In the Bible, we learn about the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) who disobeyed his father and asked for his share of inheritance when he wasn’t mature enough. In the end, after he had finished his inheritance on lust and pleasures of the world, he came to himself and went back home. He was regretful for his actions and for breaking his father’s heart. Despite all that his father welcomed him back with open arms and forgave him.

Spouses also hurt their partners and it causes deep divide in the family. The offences in the family can be both physical or psychological. Words from a husband or wife can act like a sharp knife. We have seen spouses who have squandered family fortunes and run-down family empires.

Our Heavenly Father always forgives.

Hurting others can happen intentionally or unintentionally but either way God tells us to forgive each other. The hardest part is that those who hurt us may not even come and ask for forgiveness but we still have to forgive them.

Jesus Christ was beaten, humiliated and crucified on the cross, He offered forgiveness to everyone who participated directly or indirectly in the crucifixion. They were blinded and didn’t know what they were doing but Jesus Christ still forgave them. Sometimes those who hurt and offend us are just blinded and don’t know what they are doing.

• 1^st Corinthians 2:7,8: 7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
• Luke 23:34. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”

He is fair and just enough to forgive us

Our Heavenly Father’s arms are always open for those who come to Him. God always forgives if we come to Him with a contrite heart, and confess and repent of our sins.

• 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Forgiveness is an act of love. God showed the world this love by having His One and only begotten son Jesus Christ die on the cross to redeem mankind.

• John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
• Romans 5:8. “But God showed his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

A broken and contrite heart moves God. It’s godly sorrow and it leads to repentance.

• 2 Corinthians 7:10. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Don’t be weighed down by past mistakes and sins. When you come to God, your past won’t be remembered anymore. The blood of Jesus Christ has washed them away, in atonement.

• Isaiah 1:18. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

As our Father forgives us, we too must forgive each other.

It is not always going to be easy to forgive but I pray the Lord gives you the grace to do so. You may not forget easily but ultimate love demands that we offer forgiveness those who wrong us.

• Matthew 6:14,15. 14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

In Matthew 18:23-35, we learn about a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. One of them owed him ten thousand talents but was not able to pay. The king therefore ordered him, his wife, children and belongings be sold to make payment. In his defense, the servant pleaded with the king to give him more time to pay the debt. The king was moved with compassion and offered forgiveness to the servant.

The servant refused to forgive a fellow servant.

As the story goes, when the servant went out of the King’s palace, he met a fellow servant who owed him five hundred denarii. He harassed and manhandled the fellow servant despite his pleas to be given more time to pay the debt. He had the fellow servant sent to prison until he paid the debt. The servant didn’t forgive his fellow servant. The king learnt about this from the other servants who were grieved by the unforgiving heart of the servant. The king therefore had the servant arrested and sent to prison until he paid all the ten thousand denarii.

This is the same situation we put ourselves in when we don’t forgive others. When we choose not to forgive, God too will not forgive us of our sins.

Forgiveness is a command from God. If you find it difficult to forgive, please go to the Lord in prayer. In prayer, ask the Lord to heal your broken heart, secondly ask Him to give you the grace to forgive those who wronged you.

Shalom.