Introduction. After speaking angry words or being guilty of a breach of trust, we fear the loss of a good friend and quickly seek forgiveness and restoration. At times like these, we long to hear the words in the title of this article. No matter how hard we try, we occasionally say or do something that hurts or offends those we love and care for.
Some of the deepest regrets and emotional wounds we carry come from our actions and words. An unaccepted apology can lead to the loss of a good friend and a lifetime of sorrow and loss. The closer the relationship the deeper this grief will be.
Yet there have been friends who gave us those three precious words above and we learned what a wonderful blessing granted forgiveness is! There is nothing more refreshing and wonderful than to be offered forgiveness by one we have deeply offended. We have no right to expect such forgiveness. It is truly an undeserved gift of grace and favor. Yet from time to time, we meet someone with so much love and compassion they go far beyond what we could even dare to ask.
Some of the deepest regrets and emotional wounds we carry come from our actions and words. An unaccepted apology can lead to the loss of a good friend and a lifetime of sorrow and loss. The closer the relationship the deeper this grief will be.
Yet there have been friends who gave us those three precious words above and we learned what a wonderful blessing granted forgiveness is! There is nothing more refreshing and wonderful than to be offered forgiveness by one we have deeply offended. We have no right to expect such forgiveness. It is truly an undeserved gift of grace and favor. Yet from time to time, we meet someone with so much love and compassion they go far beyond what we could even dare to ask.
Forgiving others. After considering how pleasant forgiveness has been in our own life, it is a good time to reflect on Jesus' demand that “just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise” (Lk. 6:31). Do we always forgive? Do we offer to the offender the sweet comfort of full restoration? Do we go beyond anything they could expect to receive?
God has told us that when He created us, it was in “His own image and likeness.” In other words, He used Himself as the template (Gen. 1:26-27) for our own mental and emotional makeup. When we act like Him, we reveal the highest and best part of our character. So do we act as God does in respect to forgiveness? As we have grown to understand the depth of His ability to forgive, have we also grown in our ability to offer the same quality and quantity to all who are close to us?
He has asked us to do this. Are we listening? “And be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). Jesus asked us to make this a part of every prayer we make for our own forgiveness. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you” (Mk. 11:25). “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Mt. 6:12). “And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Lk. 11:4).
Forgiveness restores what could have been lost and renews our hope for a bright future. This is God’s nature, and what He seeks us to be. We all know from personal experience how good and pleasant it is to be forgiven. Have we learned the pleasure of forgiving others? As we reflect on how God forgives, how do we measure up?
“Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:18-19). “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:10-12).
Conclusion. God’s pardon is full, complete and forever. When we understand the power of God’s forgiveness, we will not only know the joy of salvation, but we will also know the fullness of what we could be offering to others.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col. 3:12-14)
God has told us that when He created us, it was in “His own image and likeness.” In other words, He used Himself as the template (Gen. 1:26-27) for our own mental and emotional makeup. When we act like Him, we reveal the highest and best part of our character. So do we act as God does in respect to forgiveness? As we have grown to understand the depth of His ability to forgive, have we also grown in our ability to offer the same quality and quantity to all who are close to us?
He has asked us to do this. Are we listening? “And be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32). Jesus asked us to make this a part of every prayer we make for our own forgiveness. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you” (Mk. 11:25). “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Mt. 6:12). “And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Lk. 11:4).
Forgiveness restores what could have been lost and renews our hope for a bright future. This is God’s nature, and what He seeks us to be. We all know from personal experience how good and pleasant it is to be forgiven. Have we learned the pleasure of forgiving others? As we reflect on how God forgives, how do we measure up?
“Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea” (Mic. 7:18-19). “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Ps. 103:10-12).
Conclusion. God’s pardon is full, complete and forever. When we understand the power of God’s forgiveness, we will not only know the joy of salvation, but we will also know the fullness of what we could be offering to others.
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection” (Col. 3:12-14)