Forgive Others - Part 3

Mercy is part of love.  In 1 Cor. 13:7 we are told that love overlooks offenses.  We cannot say that we love if we are holding unforgiveness in our hearts.  Part of loving someone means forgiving them.  We choose to forgive each other just like we choose to walk in love. 

Mercy is not concerned with what is fair.  Mercy is a choice.  In the book of Deuteronomy, God gives us the choice between life and death.

               "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live."
                              Deut 30:19 NKJ

Choosing life includes forgiving others for the hurts they have caused us.  We do this not for their benefit but for our own.  Notice that when we choose life, we are choosing the path of blessing.  Everything God asks us to do, is for our own good. 

Choosing life means letting go of bitterness and resentment.  It means forgiving those who have hurt you so you can grow past the hurt and receive the blessings of God in your own life.

We are not alone in our decision to forgive.  The Holy Spirit has been given to us through our faith in Jesus Christ and He helps us with this.  Through Him, the power and grace of God are released in our lives, strengthening us to be able to do what seems impossible.

God's love for us was poured out in the blood of Jesus Christ.  His great love for us covers all our sin.  Likewise, our decision to forgive will also cover sin.  The Bible says that when we forgive others not only does God forgive our sins but He will also forgive them.

               And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
                              1 Peter 4:8 NKJ

Love covers sin.  When we choose to forgive, we are choosing to love. 

I have found that even though I have made the decision to forgive someone for hurting me, my mind will want to continue focusing on the hurt they caused and my mouth wants to tell somebody.  I have to pay attention to what I am thinking and stop myself when my thoughts want to rehash the whole thing. 

I am not saying we ignore what happened but that we refuse to dwell on it or repeat the matter.  Remember, love covers sin. 

Forgiving someone requires daily diligence to completely let go of the issue and forget it.  I wish it happened instantly but it does not.  Our feelings can bring stuff up if we do not pay attention to our thoughts and words.

Just the other day at work, I caught myself talking trash about someone who mistreated me many years ago to a new employee.  I had chosen to forgive that person but was still spreading the story.  That is not mercy and it is not love.  I quickly apologized to God and the person I was talking to, however, the damage was done.  My words were out there and could not be taken back.

               He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
                              Prov. 17:9 NKJ

When we keep repeating the story of how we have been hurt we are not promoting love, we are promoting division.  We are biasing others with our perceptions and influencing their relationship with that person.  That is not love and it is not mercy. 

The lesson in my story is that once we forgive, we cannot pick up the issue again.  We have to let things go in order to grow past them.

There is so much in the Bible that concerns forgiveness that I could spend all eternity talking about it.  I encourage you to study it for yourself and rely on God to help grow in this area. 
Heidirn