“But I say to you, love your enemies…” – Matthew 5:44 (NKJV)
We cannot truly love without being ready at all times to forgive. Forgiving is granting free pardon (without conditions) for offences committed against us. Forgiving is not automatic. It does not happen at the click of a finger. We make a conscious decision to forgive. It is an act of will. In the same manner, we can choose not to forgive, even as we often hear it said, “I cannot forgive him/her.” You make a choice.
It is easy to talk about forgiveness, but it is difficult to do. We feel justified in not extending forgiveness because we were wronged, and, depending on the gravity of the offence, we expect others to support our decision. Not so with God. We have a clear commandment to forgive in spite of the offence (Matthew 6:14-15), even as Christ forgives us our sins (Psalm 103:3). For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
The book of Genesis recounts how Joseph, Jacob’s eleventh son, was sold by his jealous brothers into slavery. They then lied to their father about his disappearance. It took years for the injustice to be uncovered, years of hardship, pain, treachery, and loneliness. But Joseph endured. We have no record of him complaining. It seemed this young man kept no score of the offenders and offences.
We read later of the unusual reunion between Joseph and those brothers who had sold him. They were now facing starvation because of famine in their land. They came to beg the Governor of Egypt (Joseph) to sell them grain (Genesis 42:5). Joseph, however, possessed a heart of flesh and saw the divine move in their past actions. He said to them, “…do not be distressed…with yourselves for selling me…it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you” (Genesis 45:5 – NIV). The brothers could not believe it, but they were forgiven long before that day.
God rewards us for our obedience and blesses us in ways we could never imagine. He wants us to live free of the bondage that unforgiveness brings. We are tormented when we hold on to past hurts and become bitter. Physical illnesses begin to manifest in our bodies, and we suffer unnecessarily. Medications we take might bring temporary relief, but they cannot heal us. It is only through the power of God that we can release others and extend forgiveness.
Today, meditate on this line of prayer: “…and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us…” (Matthew 6:12). We are called to forgive others.
Prayer
Father, we come into Your presence aware that our sins have separated us from You but are grateful for Your forgiveness, which brings redemption. May we also be ready to forgive those who offend us, always remembering that our redemption is dependent on our willingness to forgive. Let obedience to Your Word continually light our path so that we may walk worthy of the calling to which we have been called, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Read: Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 11:25Bible Reading Guide: Proverbs 9:13-18; Luke 16:1-18; Deuteronomy 21; Deuteronomy 22
