A forgiving heart
Is it possible to forgive others and forget the offense ?
It is important to know what gives forgiveness its power. Forgiving a friend when they offend you means next to nothing if all that happens is your memory is erased. But when you choose to forgive a friend, when you intentionally decide to let go of your grudge and accept them as a friend again, then you are showing the true power of forgiveness.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul describes characteristics Christians should have:
"Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Colossians 3:12-13)
Forgiveness is hard because being offended strikes at our heart and stirs up our pride. We want to defend ourselves; we want to lash out with a devastating insult; we want the other person to feel the hurt we are feeling.
But Jesus came here to heal our hurts, and He healed the biggest hurt in our lives by dying on the cross and paying for our sins--our offenses--against His Father. As Paul pointed out, this is our greatest example of how to forgive others.
But even before He died, Jesus gave us a great illustration of the power of forgiveness in the parable recorded in Matthew 18:21-35.
Colossians 3:12-13
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do
Stops & Steps 1803 19Sep2011