“And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” (Mark 11:25, ESV)
Have you ever had to forgive someone and, truthfully, you just didn’t want to? If you’ve lived any time at all on this earth, you’ve probably had more than one situation that required either to offer forgiveness or seek forgiveness.
When someone offends us, it’s easy to feel justified in holding onto our bruised feelings. Forgiveness is not easy, especially if that person never apologizes or tries to make things right. Yet, forgiveness is necessary. We cannot receive what we refuse to give.
Feeling justified about not forgiving may eventually turn into bitterness, anger, resentment, and a desire for revenge. Refusing to forgive destroys the bridge we all need to cross to receive our own forgiveness.
WHEN FORGIVENESS SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE
Can we ever just opt out of forgiveness because the situation feels unforgiveable? As I thought about some of the situations recorded in the Bible, I realized that many times forgiveness must have been very difficult. If we were to face a similar situation, would we decide it was just too much to forgive because the offense went too deep?
Jesus offers our greatest example of forgiveness. He taught forgiveness throughout His ministry, and His life demonstrated what forgiveness looked like in day-to-day living. He was ridiculed by religious leaders, betrayed by one of His own disciples, denied by another, and abandoned by all of them during His darkest moments.
Hanging on the cross, even in His agony, Jesus prayed for His persecutors, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34, ESV).
Joseph endured thirteen years of servitude and imprisonment in Egypt because of his brothers’ jealousy and hatred. Joseph chose to see God’s hand upon his life rather than allow bitterness and revenge to fill his heart. He responded with kindness, not retaliation.
“’As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good . . . So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50:20-21, ESV)
Stephen, the first Christian martyr, used his dying breath to pray for those stoning him. Forgiving could not have been easy, but Stephen forgave anyway. Crying out with a loud voice, his last words were, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60, ESV).
Forgiveness may not be easy, but it is necessary. Matthew 6:14 tells us, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (ESV).
HOW MANY TIMES, LORD?
You may wonder if there is a limit to the number of times we must forgive someone? Surely at some point we can say, “I’ve done enough. God doesn’t expect me to do more.”
Peter asked the same question of Jesus. “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Peter no doubt thought seven was a very generous number. The Lord’s answer surprised Peter. “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” (See Matthew 18:21-22, NKJV.)
In other words, we are to just keep on forgiving. When we realize how many times God has shown mercy and forgiveness to us, can we do any less?
“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.” (Colossians 3:13, ESV)
DON’T FORGET LOVE
Love is the component we cannot forget to include. It is love that allows us to forgive. In Matthew 5:44 Jesus commands us to, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (ESV).
Do you love like Jesus loves? Will you forgive like Jesus forgives?
“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (I Peter 4:8, ESV).
PERSONAL REFLECTION
How many of the following statements do you agree with?
- Forgiveness shows strength, not weakness.
- Refusing to forgive will hinder our prayers and our relationship with the Lord.
- Forgiveness does not mean we condone their actions.
- Forgiveness does not mean we must allow that person access into our lives again.
- There is no limit to the number of times we must forgive.
Devotion by Mary Loudermilk
