An old adage is to forgive but not to forget.
Burying the proverbial hatched is hard for many.
Causes are clung to in attempts to justify unwillingness.
Dealing with people like this is difficult but in the end blessed.
Erasing error is tremendously gratifying for all parties involved.
FORGIVENESS IS A GREAT GIFT FOR GIVER AND RECEIVER!
CONSIDER WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS ABOUT GOD’S WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE.
“For You, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon You.”Psalm 86:5
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your iniquity…” Psalm 103:2-3
“If You, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness…” Psalm 130:3-4
“I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:4
“To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness…” Daniel 9:9
CONSIDER JESUS’ WORDS AND WILLINGNESS TO FORGIVE.
“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.”
Matthew 6:14-15
“Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with what measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:37-38
“Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
CONSIDER OTHER PASSAGES THAT TEACH US TO FORGIVE.
“In Christ we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…” Ephesians 1:7
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 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 3:12-13
“Love your enemies, and do good, and lend expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:35-36
About the author:
Don and his wife Brenda have been married 48 years. They have two married sons Jason/Crista and Nicholas/Heather and four grandsons Luke, Ryker, Blake and Drew. Don is a graduate of the Gateway School of Preaching, Fairview Heights, IL, the Bristol Roads School of Biblical Studies, Flint, MI and he has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Michigan Christian College. He has been preaching since 1979. He has preached at Pacific, MO; Howell, MI; Arnold, MO; Festus, MO; Dexter, MO; and De Soto, MO where he has served since 2007. He also serves the congregation as one of the elders. Don has done campaigns and meetings in several states and mission work in Cuba, India, and Jamaica. Don refers to himself as a “Minister” because he loves ministering to others and helping them learn about Jesus and growing in their relationship with Him.
De Soto church of Christ 