Forgiveness is a concept we are all familiar with, but struggle with from time to time. We can all recall someone we struggled to forgive or haven’t been able to forgive till today.
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, forgiveness was incorporated into the ‘perfect’ prayer. God will forgive us as we will forgive others (Matt6:12). And to make sure that the disciples didn’t miss the importance of forgiveness, He took the time in Matt6:14 & 15 to further explain the impact of forgiveness.
Matt6:14-15 ‘If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.’
Forgiveness is so important to Jesus, that in His last hours He called to the Father to forgive the Roman soldiers who put Him on the cross (Luke 23:34).
Forgiveness is an action not a feeling. The way God forgive us is our guideline as to how to forgive others. Old testament had a offering-of-forgiveness-of-sins ceremony and in the new testament, Jesus was crucified for our forgiveness. Actions. To forgive someone is a choice and the action is to speak the words of forgiveness, knowing that God hears them and will honour them. And the same way you accepted Christ as your saviour by choice, but changing into the person God wants you to be is a process, the same too is forgiveness a choice and then a daily walk in confirmation and remembrance that you did forgive the person.
May God give you the strength to choose life.
Shalom