Forgiveness is a touchy subject for many. To many, they may be holding on to some pain or hurt that someone inflicted upon them years ago. Forgiving others is one of the hardest things to do. For others, they are waiting to be forgiven for some wrong they have committed against someone else in their life. That could be even more painful. Living with the stress of not forgiving takes a mental, physical, and emotional toll on our lives. As Christians, our God forgives us every time we ask it of Him. He also instructs us to do the same to other people in our lives.
“But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Matthew 6:15 NIV
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:32 NIV
We could read these Scripture verses all day long, but how do we apply them to our life? Sometimes taking an introspective look at ourselves is the best place to start. Except for Jesus, no human is perfect. Even a saint such as Mother Teresa was a sinner. However, when we look into our souls, we can see where we fall short of the glory of God. It is only by His grace and His perfect gift that we are able to make up the distance between our flaws and our salvation. Therefore, who are we to judge others? Have we never sinned? When someone trespasses against you, can you truly turn the other cheek? By reading the Word of God and applying its principles to our lives, we can become closer to him. Although I have forgiven those that betrayed me, I have not forgotten the betrayals. Forgiveness does not mean having a relationship with your betrayer. It simply is letting go of your hate for someone and instead letting God’s love shine though you. On my own, I would never have been able to forgive, but with God all things are possible.
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”“
Matthew 19:26 NIV
We have people in our lives that we want to forgive, but for some selfish reason we don’t. It is in those moments when we need to remember what the apostle Paul wrote in the Book of Romans, that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. With that verse, I am equipped to ask forgiveness from those whom I hurt and to give forgiveness to those who have hurt me. It is truly a humbling experience and will help you in your walk with Christ and help you be more like Him. Sometimes, we need to bring back the old rubber bracelets that read, WWJD?
Messengers of Mercy 