And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 MEV
Forgiveness is a Circle
Forgiveness is the pivot of life with Jesus Christ.
Being born with a sense of justice, especially our own created form of our rights, we naturally avoid forgiveness.
On a more significant encompassing level, God our Father is perfect justice.
He’s the originator of justice, so no one can stand before Him and be self-justified.
No one.
For there to be justice, a price must be paid.
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, paid that price.
To anyone who chooses to receive from Him, Jesus gives the justice He purchased by His death on the cross.
Our merits don’t justify us to stand before a holy and just God.
Instead, we’ve received ultimate forgiveness—from the only One whose forgiveness ultimately matters since all our sins are always against Him.
So what is our response to be if we’ve been ultimately forgiven?
It is to forgive.
Yet, how can I truly forgive others if I can’t create my own forgiveness?
I’ve been betrayed, tricked, lied to, or reputation slandered many times.
And I’ve been abused.
I wanted justice.
Period.
Yet I had no peace.
I honestly struggled with the command of Jesus Christ command to forgive others.
Either I could not forgive, or I would not.
Then, I realized the depth of my sin and the sin of unforgiveness.
The first step was realizing my ultimate forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
The second revelation was that only He could forgive through me.
I didn’t have the power in myself; only His power within me could complete this gift of forgiveness.
So I asked Him to make me willing to forgive.
I could then “pay forward” the gift of forgiveness He’d given me.
The result was freedom. I was no longer in bondage to the offenders.
And in some cases, even they were set free.
The circle was completed.
What difference does forgiveness make in your life?
What difference does forgiveness make in the lives of people you are in a relationship with?
Who do you need to forgive to free you and them?
Lord, I thank You that we don’t receive the justice we deserve. I trust You know how you are glorified through forgiveness and the resulting restoration to You. Let us be willing to forgive! May we loosen our grip on our sense of justice and trust You. Amen