As Christians, we are called to a higher standard of living.
We’re told that Jesus came to earth as a man and lived in our world so that he could teach us what it means to be human: not just how to be like him, but how to live together with other humans on this planet.
This extends beyond Christianity into the realm of forgiveness, which is one way in which we can love others better than they deserve or expect. Whether you’ve been hurt by someone else or have hurt someone else yourself, it’s important for everyone—Christian or not—to learn how to forgive others and ourselves when we need it most!
Forgive them for your own sake
Forgiving others is not only good for them, but it’s also good for you.
Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself by letting go of any resentment or bitterness against the person who has hurt you. When you don’t forgive someone, this resentment eats at your heart and destroys your own happiness and peace. This can lead to all kinds of health problems such as depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and even cancer!
But when we forgive someone who has wronged us—whether it was intentional or not—the weight of our anger lifts off our shoulders and we feel better about ourselves overall. We can enjoy life more fully without being weighed down by anger toward another person.
Forgiveness is a principle
Forgiveness is a principle. It’s a requirement of God and the Bible makes it clear that you should forgive others, not just because they deserve it, but because it will make you happier and bring peace to your heart. Forgiveness is also a choice. You can choose to let go of the past and move on with your life or hold onto resentment toward another person forever.
Forgiveness is not easy but choosing to forgive someone who has hurt you can be one of the most difficult things in life, especially if they really have wronged us badly. However, as Christ taught us: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors (Matthew 6:12).”
What does it mean to forgive?
To forgive is to let go of anger and resentment, to give up your right to revenge, to give up the past, to accept responsibility for your own actions.
Forgiveness is the key ingredient in genuine healing. When we don’t forgive others, it hurts us more than them. We become bitter and angry because we are holding onto something that can never be changed or undone. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:14–15: “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Forgiveness requires grace.
Forgiveness requires humility as well as repentance from both sides: from those who have been wronged and those who have done wrong (or at least, who may be aware that they did something morally wrong). Humility means being willing to admit your own shortcomings, take responsibility for them and learn how not to repeat them in the future. It also means giving up any desire for revenge or retribution against someone else; forgiving means letting go of resentment or anger toward another person so that you can move forward without being stuck in an unhealthy cycle of negativity and unhappiness with yourself or others
Unforgiveness brings pain and destruction
We all know that unforgiveness is a poison. When we hold onto an offense, bitterness and resentment are the end result. These feelings cause pain in our lives and the lives of others around us.
The Bible tells us that forgiveness is not only a choice but also a commandment (Colossians 3:13). It’s one of the most valued characteristics that we must possess as Christians if we want to live righteously before God (1 Peter 3:14-16). We need to forgive others! But why?
Unforgiveness causes destruction in your life and relationships. If you’re unwilling to forgive someone who has hurt or wronged you, then your ungodly attitude will destroy any good relationship with God or man.
Jesus commands us to forgive others because it is better for us than being unforgiving.
Forgiveness is a principle. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a perfect life and then died for our sins so that we could be forgiven. God forgives us when we ask him to, but he also wants us to forgive others just as he has forgiven us (Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37).
Forgiveness requires grace. Forgiveness involves giving up your right for revenge on someone who hurt you or someone close to you. You have the right not to forgive them if they don’t ask for it or deserve it in your opinion, but doing so is often painful and difficult because it requires giving up power and control over those who have hurt you (Romans 12:19). Unforgiveness brings pain and destruction into our lives and causes negative consequences with our relationships with other people (Matthew 6:14-15).
We should always seek forgiveness from those who have wronged us before seeking justice through legal means or retaliation (Matthew 5:23-24)
We should forgive others because it is better for us than being unforgiving. We should do it because Jesus commanded us to do so, and we can trust that He knows what’s best for us.
November 17, 2022
