Forgiveness is an action or a choice to release an offender from your punishment and entrust it all to God. As beautiful as this meaning sounds, it is also important that we understand what forgiveness is from the word of God. What does the Bible say about forgiveness? In Ephesians 4:32, the Bible says: “and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Furthermore, Colossians 3:13 shows us another angle and it says: “Bearing with one another forgiving one another, if anyone has complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”
From these verses, it is pretty clear that forgiveness is a command which leaves us with no choice. Forgiveness can be so hard that sometimes, it even feels impossible. We want to forgive, but bitterness and hurt have a way of creeping back in. When we are hurt by someone, the pains that follows is impossible to ignore. It may not be easy but it is possible to do in the long run. Let us see Proverbs 4:23-27. The Bible says: “keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring out the issues of life. 24 put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. 25 let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, 27 do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil
It then means that your actions come from the things you think and believe. If you have the right beliefs in your heart, your actions will be life-giving, and you will move in the right direction. When your heart is right and pure, you can obey God’s word and apply it in your life. We must get into the habit of extending forgiveness. Forgiveness is vital in life. In Mathew 6:14-15 we are told ''for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses neither will your father forgive your trespasses.” For a person to earn God's forgiveness, they must also be willing to forgive others. Those who do not forgive will not be forgiven by God.
There are many misconceptions about forgiveness, like it’s a display of weakness, it let the offending party off the hook, or opens the door to people taking advantage of you. Those misconceptions are wrong. As you consider forgiving someone who has betrayed your trust, here are some principles to remember:
#1. Forgiveness is a choice - it's not a feeling or an attitude. Forgiving someone is a mental decision, a choice that you have complete control over. You don't have to wait until you feel like forgiving someone.
#2. Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting - you don't have to forget the betrayal in order to forgive. You may never forget what happened, and those memories will creep in occasionally, but you can choose to forgive and move on. When the memory comes back again and again, you don’t take offence or become angry with the person. You only remember for remembering sake. This is when you know you have truly forgiven indeed. Let see Isaiah 43:24-25 “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.”
I have heard many people say “I can forgive but I can't forget.’’ Friends; forgiveness is not the same as forgetting. Forgiveness is letting someone off the hook of the offense. Forgetting is choosing to never bring up the offense again, because God who has infinite knowledge chooses not to remember our sins, if He can choose to forget our sins, so can we.
#3. Forgiveness doesn’t make you a weakling - forgiveness shows maturity and depth of character. If people repeatedly violate your trust; instead of getting to the point of unforgiveness, you can choose to walk away from such relationships or distance yourself from such persons so that you don’t enter the zone of unforgiveness every now and then. But know this truth that you are not a weakling anytime you choose to forgive.
#4. Don't use forgiveness as a weapon - if you truly forgive someone, you won't use their past behavior as a tool to harm them whenever you feel the need to get a little revenge. Even though forgiveness has the power to bring life, it also has the power to bring freedom.
#5. Forgiveness is freedom - holding on to pain and bitterness drains your energy and negatively colors your outlook in life. Granting forgiveness allows you to let go of the negative emotions that hold you back and gives you the ability to move forward with freedom and optimism. And the Bible says in the book of Colossians 1:13-14: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Because of God's forgiveness, we are redeemed, when we forgive others, we give that person the chance to be redeemed. This means they have a chance to turn from their sinful ways and have access to the father because our choice to forgive help us to work in dominion.
We will know the work of forgiveness is complete when we experience the freedom that comes as a result. We are the ones who suffer when we choose not to forgive but when we do forgive, the Lord set our hearts free from the anger, bitterness, resentment and hurt that previously imprisoned us. Let us learn the art of forgiveness and we will not regret it.
Benefits of Forgiveness
As believers, we often say the power of forgiveness is a key that will unlock the heavenly kingdom in front of us when get there. However, it often happens that the person who needs your forgiveness more than others is you. Whatever you have done in the past, you need to forgive yourself. Let us check out this. The Bible says therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you , leave your gift there In front of the altar first go and reconciled to you brother then come and offer your gift (Mathew 5:23-24).
That's very difficult to do, right! But God will not accept anything from you when you go to Him with an unclean heart. When you forgive people for whatever they have done to you, you leave your soul cleansed and transformed, you feel much better when you let the pain go for good. Forgiveness removes pains and grudges from your heart. You become joyful and this is what the Lord desires for you. When your heart is pained, the lord can find a place in it and fill it with love. 1Corinthians 13:14 says: “Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrong.” Love each other and forgive all those who have caused you pain. This is what the Lord will do to you in return.
I believe you have learnt something in this piece.
Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Istifanus Ritkimwa Wudar!
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