Forgive Others - Part 1
Lately I have been studying living on purpose and today's topic of forgiving others fits right in. Just like we choose to love others, we must also choose to forgive. In fact, I will go so far as to say that you cannot truly love someone without choosing to forgive them as well.
Part of the definition of love in 1 Cor. 13:4-8 says that love overlooks wrong doings and does not take offense. The command to love others means that we must refuse to harbor unforgiveness.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14 NIV
We cannot have peace without intentionally giving mercy. Unforgiveness breeds discontentment and in our pursuit of peace, we will have to forgive.
Let's be honest here, we are all imperfect people who make mistakes every single day. Our very lives depend on the mercy and grace of God. The Bible reminds us that every person sins. We ALL fall short of perfection. We ALL need God's mercy.
Even our relationship with God cannot escape the effects of our foolish words or unthinking actions. Many times the wounds we inflict on each other are not done on purpose but the choice to forgive is.
We will set ourselves up for heart break if we expect each other to be perfect. Ideally, we will view our human relationships with the same respect that we do our relationship with God and that would mean being honest and quick to repent.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36 NIV
Jesus is our example in mercy. At the last supper, He stripped down and washed the feet of all of His disciples. He washed the feet of His betrayer, Judas Iscariot! What Jesus has shown us how to do, He has also equipped us to do.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit and your decision to extend mercy, you too can be like Christ and forgive.
Heidirn
Part of the definition of love in 1 Cor. 13:4-8 says that love overlooks wrong doings and does not take offense. The command to love others means that we must refuse to harbor unforgiveness.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14 NIV
We cannot have peace without intentionally giving mercy. Unforgiveness breeds discontentment and in our pursuit of peace, we will have to forgive.
Let's be honest here, we are all imperfect people who make mistakes every single day. Our very lives depend on the mercy and grace of God. The Bible reminds us that every person sins. We ALL fall short of perfection. We ALL need God's mercy.
Even our relationship with God cannot escape the effects of our foolish words or unthinking actions. Many times the wounds we inflict on each other are not done on purpose but the choice to forgive is.
We will set ourselves up for heart break if we expect each other to be perfect. Ideally, we will view our human relationships with the same respect that we do our relationship with God and that would mean being honest and quick to repent.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36 NIV
Jesus is our example in mercy. At the last supper, He stripped down and washed the feet of all of His disciples. He washed the feet of His betrayer, Judas Iscariot! What Jesus has shown us how to do, He has also equipped us to do.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit and your decision to extend mercy, you too can be like Christ and forgive.
Heidirn
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