“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13, NIV)
Some questions by new Christians occur more than others. A common question by most new Christians concerns if and when to forgive others. Every person is wronged at some point. Many develop regrets, grievances, vengeful thoughts, hatred, and other emotional responses after feeling betrayed or attacked. When you accept Christ, you are called to forgive. Do you remember that Jesus said in the Lord’s Prayer: “…forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)? This may not be an easy thing to do. Is it in your nature to forgive others?
After encountering many such questions about when and if to forgive others, Billy Graham penned the following words for new believers:
“The command to forgive as we have been forgiven is difficult to obey, but we need to forgive people who have wronged us—even if we don’t think they deserve it. If we don’t, the poisons of anger and bitterness will eat away at our souls—but with God’s help we can deal with them in a way that honors Him.
First, if we were at fault in any way, we need to face it honestly and seek God’s forgiveness. Then we need to ask the person to forgive us as well—even if they may refuse.
The next step is to ask God to help you forgive them for hurting you. The only way to do this, I believe, is to realize how fully God has forgiven us in Christ. We don’t deserve His forgiveness, yet we “are justified freely by his grace” (Romans 3:24). Open your heart to Christ and then ask Him to replace your hurt and anger with His love—and He will.” (p. 45, Wisdom for Each Day).
The scripture for today comes from Paul’s letter to the Colossian church. In Colossians 3:13, Paul urges church members to “Bear with each other and forgive one another”. This aligns perfectly with Jesus’ command to “forgive as the Lord forgave you”. Paul and Jesus were unified that forgiveness must be part of the faithful life. No Christian can be true to Jesus without a heart that is ready and willing to forgive.
Why do you think Jesus and Paul reiterated the need to forgive others? Why is one of Jesus’ final words from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”? I think the answer is a simple one. When hurt, humans all too quickly adopt feelings of vengeance, grievance, regrets, defensiveness, and grudges. Forgiveness is not normally their first thought. That is why our world is full of violence, war, anger, online trolls, and so many other evils. Jesus and Paul reminded the faithful that forgiveness is something missing in many people in the world, something radically opposite the worldly human tendency.
In a courtroom in the 1980’s, a man was being tried for murder. He had murdered a twenty-year-old in cold blood. After he was found guilty, the court met for sentencing. They asked the mother of the murdered young man to give her thoughts on a fair sentence. The mother approached the front of the court, turned to the murderer and told him how as a disciple of Jesus, she was called to forgive him. She told the murderer in no uncertain terms that she forgave him and left it up to the court as to how to proceed. The murderer and court were shocked at the ability of the mother to forgive. Later, it was reported that the mother’s words of forgiveness affected the murderer deeply, moving him to read the Bible and later accept Jesus as his own personal Savior.
Forgiveness still shocks people. It may cause others to reevaluate their hard heart and vengeful thoughts. It makes the faithful person more merciful and the hardened criminal more apt to reexamine their sins.
Dr. M.R. De Haan, founder of the Radio Bible Class, once said on air, "You can't judge the spirituality of a Christian on the basis of his prayers, since praying is often done for its effect on the listeners. Nor can you gauge a person's spiritual status by the loudness of his 'amens' and 'hallelujahs.' Even the liberality of one's giving is not an infallible test. It, too may be done for personal recognition or to ease one's conscience. I'm convinced that the surest test of the depth of our relationship with God is found in our willingness to forgive others." Showing this attitude through acts of kindness to those who have offended us often erases feeling of bitterness in their hearts. It offers a chance for redemption and hope for tomorrow.
Today, search your heart. Are you quick to forgive? Do you have a natural tendency to hold on to grudges or seethe with resentments? Jesus and Paul were convinced that forgiveness was the key to mercy and grace and a healthy spiritual life. Are you ready to make forgiveness take prominent place in your spiritual life?
After encountering many such questions about when and if to forgive others, Billy Graham penned the following words for new believers:
“The command to forgive as we have been forgiven is difficult to obey, but we need to forgive people who have wronged us—even if we don’t think they deserve it. If we don’t, the poisons of anger and bitterness will eat away at our souls—but with God’s help we can deal with them in a way that honors Him.
First, if we were at fault in any way, we need to face it honestly and seek God’s forgiveness. Then we need to ask the person to forgive us as well—even if they may refuse.
The next step is to ask God to help you forgive them for hurting you. The only way to do this, I believe, is to realize how fully God has forgiven us in Christ. We don’t deserve His forgiveness, yet we “are justified freely by his grace” (Romans 3:24). Open your heart to Christ and then ask Him to replace your hurt and anger with His love—and He will.” (p. 45, Wisdom for Each Day).
The scripture for today comes from Paul’s letter to the Colossian church. In Colossians 3:13, Paul urges church members to “Bear with each other and forgive one another”. This aligns perfectly with Jesus’ command to “forgive as the Lord forgave you”. Paul and Jesus were unified that forgiveness must be part of the faithful life. No Christian can be true to Jesus without a heart that is ready and willing to forgive.
Why do you think Jesus and Paul reiterated the need to forgive others? Why is one of Jesus’ final words from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”? I think the answer is a simple one. When hurt, humans all too quickly adopt feelings of vengeance, grievance, regrets, defensiveness, and grudges. Forgiveness is not normally their first thought. That is why our world is full of violence, war, anger, online trolls, and so many other evils. Jesus and Paul reminded the faithful that forgiveness is something missing in many people in the world, something radically opposite the worldly human tendency.
In a courtroom in the 1980’s, a man was being tried for murder. He had murdered a twenty-year-old in cold blood. After he was found guilty, the court met for sentencing. They asked the mother of the murdered young man to give her thoughts on a fair sentence. The mother approached the front of the court, turned to the murderer and told him how as a disciple of Jesus, she was called to forgive him. She told the murderer in no uncertain terms that she forgave him and left it up to the court as to how to proceed. The murderer and court were shocked at the ability of the mother to forgive. Later, it was reported that the mother’s words of forgiveness affected the murderer deeply, moving him to read the Bible and later accept Jesus as his own personal Savior.
Forgiveness still shocks people. It may cause others to reevaluate their hard heart and vengeful thoughts. It makes the faithful person more merciful and the hardened criminal more apt to reexamine their sins.
Dr. M.R. De Haan, founder of the Radio Bible Class, once said on air, "You can't judge the spirituality of a Christian on the basis of his prayers, since praying is often done for its effect on the listeners. Nor can you gauge a person's spiritual status by the loudness of his 'amens' and 'hallelujahs.' Even the liberality of one's giving is not an infallible test. It, too may be done for personal recognition or to ease one's conscience. I'm convinced that the surest test of the depth of our relationship with God is found in our willingness to forgive others." Showing this attitude through acts of kindness to those who have offended us often erases feeling of bitterness in their hearts. It offers a chance for redemption and hope for tomorrow.
Today, search your heart. Are you quick to forgive? Do you have a natural tendency to hold on to grudges or seethe with resentments? Jesus and Paul were convinced that forgiveness was the key to mercy and grace and a healthy spiritual life. Are you ready to make forgiveness take prominent place in your spiritual life?