Forgive One Another
Remember that our purpose in going through all these “one anothers” in Scripture is to fulfill the second part of the Second Greatest Command…”Love yourself (who you are in Christ) so you can love others as you love yourself.”
The “one anothers” teach us very clearly what loving our neighbors, i.e., all others looks like. With that said, the next “one another” is perhaps the most powerful and the most difficult one we will encounter…but that does not in any way excuse us from following through with this extremely important aspect of love.
Paul continues (from our previous command) in Ephesians 4:32 that we are to “…Forgive one another…just as in Christ, God forgave you.” Three simple yet profound words that will ultimately set the path for your life depending on whether you choose to obediently and lovingly follow through…or not.
I can’t tell you how many people that I’ve encountered, counseled, discipled and mentored that have been completely impacted by this command. The actual percentage is 100%. Either they have chosen not to forgive and have lived their entire life with the draining, fatiguing, overwhelming burden or unforgiveness that they think is actually making things better because of what someone else has done to them. Or they have chosen to forgive and lay down that excruciating burden of carrying someone else’s sin toward them (or the offense that they wrongly held toward another).
Someone has said the unforgiveness is like filling a syringe with poison to inject the other person and then injecting yourself with it. Forgiveness, on the other hand, is not only loving and fulfilling, it may be the most freeing thing that you can ever do.
If Christ can forgive each and every one of us, including you and me, and our sins against Him and all others we’ve sinned against, then we can certainly extend that same forgiveness to others.
One final thought on forgiveness that may help you understand the tremendous burden of unforgiveness…Matthew 6:14-15 states, “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.”
That’s an incredible burden to bear, not only in this life but in the life to come. Don’t carry it around for one moment longer because Jesus has made it so you don’t have to!
Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Who do you need to forgive today? What unforgiveness are you holding onto? Who do you need to ask forgiveness of today? I promise you that forgiving all others will free your heart and mind for all The Lord has in store for you…but you must truly forgive and let go.
Love and Lordship…Action Item(s)
- Spend time with Him in His Word and prayer daily – read and study the Scriptures in this post as a way to start.
- Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you.
- Meditate on all that God has forgiven you in Christ…is there something you need to ask Him for forgiveness right now?
- Is there someone, anyone, several that may have wronged you and you’ve not forgiven them? Write down names, pray and ask The Lord for humility and courage to forgive them right now, Today.
- Is there anyone you need to ask for their forgiveness? Do it today.
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