WHEN ITS HARD TO FORGIVE…
The Bible is very clear about every Christians calling to forgive. Matthew 6:14-15 plainly puts forth the words of Jesus – “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins,” (NIV). Colossians 3:13 reinforces our duty to forgive, especially those of faith, “Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (ESV). Yet, many of us find it difficult to truly forgive. We find it difficult to put aside the hurt, the betrayal, and sometimes, even our own pride.
C.S. Lewis wrote, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” John Piper reminds us, “We must renounce revenge and trust our cause to God and then return good for evil. That’s our part of forgiveness, and we can do it whether the adversary admits wrong or not. One great miracle has already happened in us. We’re not responsible for the other miracle of repentance in them.” Surely every Christians can say “Amen!”
Yet, why is it so difficult to truly forgive? Why do we hold on so tightly to something Christ commanded us to forsake? For many, the hurt is so deep, and the recipient of our forgiveness seems so undeserving. For some, they seem to thrive on the drama and enjoy holding on to the hate! We often play the moments over and over again in our mind until they begin to poison our heart. Sometimes, it is hard to forgive because we played a part in the “mess” and bear some of the blame for the broken relationship. Often, our pride is greater than our desire to follow God’s command. Yet, our calling is clear! “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV).
Forgiveness does not mean that all trust is restored, that every part of the relationship is put back in place, or that forgiveness is a “two-way street.” Yet, each of us is accountable to God, and truly know the joy, the depths, and the fullness of God’s forgiveness thru Christ! May our desire be to be more like Him!
Pastor Chris
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