A Friend In MeSample

“Forgiveness and the Bigger Picture”

As we begin to understand forgiveness, we see that it cleans our hearts, is a choice, is ongoing, and doesn’t always change the situation. God always sees the bigger picture and commands us to forgive for reasons we may never know. Obeying him in this area deeply affects our ministries, work, and family lives. This is true whether we are forgiving others or ourselves.

Scripture tells us:

“Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37)

“If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven” (John 20:23)

“For if you forgive others people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14)

When we forgive or are forgiven, our hearts become blameless and happy. God knew we might need to forgive more than seventy-seven times and be forgiven just as much (Matt. 18:22). In fact, when telling the parable of the unmerciful servant who was tortured for not forgiving a fellow servant, Jesus boldly said, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart” (v. 35).

God sent Jesus to help us navigate relationships with others and our own selves. We are to: forgive and be forgiven, forgive and be happy, and forgive and be blameless. Happiness is a by-product of forgiveness, because joy runs free in a pure, blameless heart (Ps. 119:1).

Just as Christ saw his persecutors’ hearts when he was on the cross and forgave them, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34), when we forgive, it changes our hearts so that we can see the other person’s humanity. My heart was changed when my mom told me more about her life and what it was like for her not to have a loving mother of her own. Through conversations like that, she would tell me how sorry she was for breaking up the family and leaving us. She was truly broken by her choices. I saw it in her tears; I heard it in her voice crumbling. Perhaps we are closest to Jesus when we choose to forgive.

*Is unforgiveness hindering you in your relationships? Is it a scar from previously in life? Is it a current relationship you’re harming through unforgiveness?

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