31 January 2014 “Freedom in Forgiveness”
Psalm 86:5
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
I love this scripture because it is not an empty promise. I have personally found that God is like this all the time; He’s a forgiver, and it is such a relief! I also experience great relief when I unconditionally love others and readily forgive them. Even if no one asks for my forgiveness; it is so freeing not to hold things against people.
The Apostle Paul put it this way, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
(Colossians 3:13)
Remember, the Lord forgave me. He didn’t have to, yet he did. He is not holding anything against me anymore. So when I encounter regular people who offend me, who are just as flawed as I, why hold anything against them if God isn’t doing that to me? What makes me think my heart is more important than God’s?
Pastor Dean does say not to confuse forgiveness with trust; the two are not mutually exclusive. That’s wise advice. Sometimes we need to see if the repentance of the offender was sincere like God does with us.
And forgiveness and grudges aren’t mutually exclusive. They don’t have to go together either! And the reason it feels sooooo much better NOT to hold a grudge is because God doesn’t hold them against us. He truly is showing us a better way!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for your character that reveals so many awesome tips for my heart to enjoy. Thank you that making allowances for other people’s quirks and shortcomings is better than holding those things against them. Thank you for calling Believers to be like Christ and to not be disappointed when we do. I love you and praise you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Psalm 86:5
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
I love this scripture because it is not an empty promise. I have personally found that God is like this all the time; He’s a forgiver, and it is such a relief! I also experience great relief when I unconditionally love others and readily forgive them. Even if no one asks for my forgiveness; it is so freeing not to hold things against people.
The Apostle Paul put it this way, “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
(Colossians 3:13)
Remember, the Lord forgave me. He didn’t have to, yet he did. He is not holding anything against me anymore. So when I encounter regular people who offend me, who are just as flawed as I, why hold anything against them if God isn’t doing that to me? What makes me think my heart is more important than God’s?
Pastor Dean does say not to confuse forgiveness with trust; the two are not mutually exclusive. That’s wise advice. Sometimes we need to see if the repentance of the offender was sincere like God does with us.
And forgiveness and grudges aren’t mutually exclusive. They don’t have to go together either! And the reason it feels sooooo much better NOT to hold a grudge is because God doesn’t hold them against us. He truly is showing us a better way!
Dear God,
Thank you so much for your character that reveals so many awesome tips for my heart to enjoy. Thank you that making allowances for other people’s quirks and shortcomings is better than holding those things against them. Thank you for calling Believers to be like Christ and to not be disappointed when we do. I love you and praise you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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