There is true Love in forgiveness. It is easy to go to church and to hear sermons on forgiveness, but the true test of your Love comes when people offend you. Our first reaction to offenses is ususally to lash out in anger, or to get even. We know that this is how the world acts. But we are no longer of the world, we are children of the most high God, created in his image and likeness. Why then is it so hard to forgive when we feel we have been wronged? It's called the flesh. We have to crucify the flesh. Jesus, even though he never sinned and he did everything that the father asked him, and he ministered to the people's needs. Yet they still hated him and crucified him, and even his friends like Judas betrayed him. Peter denied him. And at one point he was seperated from the Father, yet he said forgive them Father for they know not what they have done. It should be easy to forgive others as Jesus did. But it's not!
I tell you that we must forgive, there is no other time that you reflect the image and the likeness of your Father than when you choose to forgive. Because God forgave us when we didn't deserve it.
Mathew 6:14-15
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25-26
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
Luke 6:35-37
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Even though at times it seems like this is the hardest thing that we will ever have to do, trust in the Lord and his Word, and let the Holy Spirit lead you into this blessing that is called forgiveness. I think we expect this kind of thing to happen from people that are in the world, but it shocks us and hurts us most when it comes from fellow christians and even ministers. But we have to rememeber that no-one is perfect and that we all make mistakes. How many mistakes did you make before you knew God? and how many are we still making now, yet our father in heaven who loves us, forgives us when ever we ask and repent of our sins. Forgiveness is a blessing that teaches us no matter what anybody does to us, the Love that God has placed in us can cover a multitude of sins. So Choose this day to forgive any and every person that has ever offended you past or present.
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
God Bless
