FORGIVENESS

As Christians, we are taught that if we are forgiven for our trespasses, then we should reflect that not just in our living, but in how we treat others. One aspect of that is FORGIVENESS.

Many times in discussions or teaching of forgiveness, the primary focus is on how WE are forgiven through Jesus. This is the foundation of how we are to deal with those who trespass against us. When we think of forgiveness, we automatically think of those we have in our lives, such as our spouses, our children, our siblings, and even friends. We MIGHT also think about people we know as casual acquaintances. And of course, we SHOULD think of them. But then we have to think more outwardly, just as Jesus did. When we hear pastors talk about how Jesus had the whole world on his mind (collectively AND individually), we see that His mind was even on those who were causing His suffering. I have also heard that it wasn’t just the Roman Centurion's hand that drove the nails into Jesus, but it was also ours. And I genuinely agree with that.

So when we look at how we look outwardly, I think it is safe to assume that most of us think about people we pass on the road, or the person they smiled at in a store. People we don’t know, but don’t have any grievances with in some fashion. But how many of us think about those who have hurt us? Regardless of what it was, we are still expected to follow Jesus' example to forgive those who did us wrong. You might be able to justify it, make it seem irrefutable to YOU, but that would mean that you should have whatever YOU deserve heaped onto you as well. Remember, Jesus died on the cross for EVERYONE, he FORGAVE everyone. If I ask you if you truly forgive everyone, if you quietly say to yourself, ‘I forgive, but I won’t forget, ’ then I would encourage you to re-examine your salvation. We are warned in scriptures, by Jesus Himself, in Matthew 6:14-15 “14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

So, what is more important? Your HURT or your GRUDGE? Or your SALVATIO