Forgiveness

Forgiveness--now there’s an issue that has destroyed friendships, torn families apart and split churches for years—actually, the lack of it is the problem. We walk through life carrying unforgiveness and hatred like chains that grow heavier and heavier as time passes. If we can learn to rid ourselves of this excess baggage, our lives can be used all the more to share GOD’s love.

Forgiveness is actually threefold—spiritual, relational and personal.

In the spiritual aspect, we must seek GOD’s forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” You won’t tell GOD anything that will catch Him by surprise—He already knows. Confessing it to Him releases you from its hold.

As for the relational aspect--in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus instructs us to pray in this way, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12). We cannot harbor malice in our hearts towards another person without it impacting our relationship with GOD. If GOD is able to look past the ugliness of our sin and forgive us, we should be able to move past petty hurts and differences to forgive one another. Therefore, it is important to forgive those who have offended you and to seek forgiveness from those you have offended.

Now for the personal aspect—this is the area where I myself struggle the most. Once we have sought GOD’s forgiveness and asked for and imparted forgiveness to others, we must then forgive ourselves. All too often, we confess our sin to have it cleansed by the shed blood of Jesus only to pick that suitcase up again and limp along allowing it to still weigh us down. There’s no reason for it--it’s forgiven, it’s done away with and GOD Himself remembers it no more. Why do we do it? Because guilt is one of Satan’s best tools, he is constantly throwing our past up in our faces in order to keep us from attaining what GOD has in store for us. Don’t let the devil fool you. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.” Satan has no hold on us if we truly are the children of GOD, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus. Move past self, turn it over to GOD and let go of it. We cannot change our past but we can look to GOD in the present and thereby impact the future.

The question now is, Is there anyone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from today? Loose those chains, seek freedom and see how GOD can use you! He will, if you'll allow Him to...

Blessings,
Tony