“As Christ Forgave You”

“As Christ Forgave You”
Saturday, February 01, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

Colossians 3:12–14

Many people struggle with the matter of forgiveness. They know that the Word of God commands us to forgive those who have hurt us, but that does not take away the pain of the offense. The more painful what we have experienced is, the harder it is for us to let go of our hurt and let the one who wounded us off the hook.

It is part of human nature to want to get even. We remember those who have injured us in the past, and all too often continue to hold it over their heads. God commands us to forgive others, not because they deserve it, but because He forgave us. Forgiveness is so important to Jesus that He asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him. “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots” (Luke 23:34).

The pattern set for forgiveness by Jesus proves that it is possible to forgive those who do us wrong. If He was willing to forgive those who were crucifying Him, and is willing to forgive us for the sins that took Him to the cross, on what basis do we imagine a right not to forgive? When we do not forgive others, it damages our relationship with them. But it damages our relationship with God as well, because we are clinging to bitterness rather than forgiving.

Today's Growth Principle:
Holding onto the hurts and offenses of the past robs us of right relationships with God and others.