"And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." (Mark 11:25 NIV)
"If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:23 NIV)
What forgiveness does:
1. It releases the guilt and burden from the other person...and from you.
When we have junk to focus on it make us lose our focus on God. He is where our hearts should be.
2. It acknowledges that we are human...and that the other person is human.
They may never even know that they have hurt you. People are flawed. We are nowhere close to the perfection of Christ. Mistakes and failures remind us that we are sinners; we need Him and his forgiveness more than ever. On the other hand sometimes our anger is not with a man, but with God. Sometimes God's answer is no, and sometimes we don't understand the way God works--this again reminds us we are seeing things through human, fleshly eyes. We don't know the plan or what God sees.
3. It brings peace.
Anger will fester. Hurt will consume you.. But only if you let it. Forgiveness brings you to a place where you can honestly say, "know what God, You are in control and it is okay."
"But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27 NIV)
4. It costs pride.
It is really hard to verbally or nonverbally forgive somebody. It, in some people's eyes, shows weakness to be humbled and meek. But that is what God is asking for. He gave his life for us, took on sin and crimes he didn't commit....how much more humble can you get? And yet, he has the power to speak life into existence...now, Is THAT weeakness?
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5 NIV)
5. It shows love
Even if the other person had no idea they hurt you, you knew and you are able to move on and show that person that hurt or offended you love.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors. (Matthew 6:12 NIV)
So watch yourselves.
"If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying 'I repent,' you must forgive them." (Luke 17:3, 4 NIV)
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7 NIV)
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. (Romans 12:14 NIV)
Don't get me wrong...forgiveness is not saying the situation never happened or that there wasn't a wrong. It is showing mercy. Mercy, like that the Father so willingly gives to us that we don't deserve. God forgave a man that gave Him away to the enemy...the enemy that would beat him beyond recondition, gamble for his garments, mock him, crown him with thorns, and finally nail him to a cross. Forgiveness isn't earned. It is an act of mercy. It is releasing somebody that doesn't always deserve it.
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34 NIV)
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. (Genesis 33:4 NIV)
Like God, who runs to us when we are lost, so should we show mercy to others. -- Lori Schave
Lori & Andrew Schave are LHF Extreme Youth Directors
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