๐๐จ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ง
โ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ง.โ
Some people say, to forgive is to forget! But what is really behind when we forgive, is to be forgiven. In Mark 11:26 Jesus taught us: โBut if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.โ It highlights that harboring unforgiveness can hinder our forgiveness from God.
In todayโs world, forgiveness is crucial, as conflicts persist, producing cycles of hatred and violence. It is a timeless principle that passes beyond cultures, traditions, and ideologies. Mark 11:26, reveals the significance of forgiveness in our lives. Letโs explore its context, definitions, and applications in the context of our modern world.
Forgiveness, in its essence, is the act of forgiving, the pardon of an offender, by which he is considered and treated as not guilty. The basic requirement for answered prayer is a forgiving spirit. In verse 25, Jesus said, โAnd when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.โ
In our personal lives, unforgiveness can manifest as stress, anxiety, and even physical illness. Itโs a heavy burden to carry, affecting not only our mental and emotional well-being but also our relationships and spiritual growth.
Now, more than ever, we need forgiveness. Itโs a balm for our wounded hearts and an antidote for reconciliation. By forgiving, we imitate Christโs example and pave the way for healing and restoration in our lives and communities.
Is there someone you hated the most? Whenever you see that person you remember the pain, bitterness, and devastation caused. That person could be in our job, family members, or even in the church. But if youโre a born-again believer of Christ today you ought to forgive.
Forgiveness is an act of obedience to Godโs command. Itโs a deliberate choice to release the debt owed to us, just as God forgave us through Christโs sacrifice. Ephesians 4:32 says, โAnd be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christโs sake hath forgiven you.โ
While humans may struggle to forget entirely, Godโs forgiveness involves remembering our sins no more. We should strive to move beyond the memory of past wrongs when we forgive. Isaiah 43:25 God declares, โI, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.โ
However, we cannot deny that forgetting is very hard to do; I bet none of us forgets how people destroy us. But the bible gives us one more principle in Colossians 3:13 says, โForbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.โ
Brethren, forbearance means patiently enduring one anotherโs faults, reflecting Christโs forgiveness. Colossians 3:13 โForbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.โ His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of forgiveness, offering us reconciliation with God. Just as we forgive and seek forgiveness, we mirror the love and grace found in Jesus.
May we learn to let go of bitterness, and to be workers of reconciliation in a world that desperately needs Godโs forgiveness.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of forgiveness through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to forgive as You have forgiven us, to let go of bitterness, and to be agents of reconciliation in a world in desperate need of Your healing touch. In Jesusโ name, we pray. Amen.
